Putin launches an anti-corruption operation

One of Russia's top government officials, Deputy Defense Minister Timur Ivanov, has been arrested in a corruption investigation, with prosecutors accusing him of embezzling military funds that he used to live a lavish lifestyle. He was also accused of bribery, and Timur Ivanov, who denied the charges, was detained by the Federal Security Service (FSB). His ex-wife was also arrested with him.

Prosecutors described the 48-year-old as part of a “criminal conspiracy” in which he received bribes “on a particularly large scale” during his role supervising military construction projects. Specifically, Ivanov, who has served as deputy minister since 2016, was responsible for the Department of Real Estate, Housing, Construction and Mortgages at the Ministry of Defense, whose spending has risen significantly since the beginning of the war in Ukraine.

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According to Russian media, Ivanov, who is said to be responsible among other things for the reconstruction work of the Russian-occupied city of Mariupol, has amassed enormous wealth, created his own empire of luxury real estate and more. If convicted, he could face up to 15 years in prison. Pictures of his lavish life had spread around the world in the past, and he – along with his wife – was the focus of numerous press inquiries about real estate, travel and expensive purchases from Europe. Forbes magazine ranked him among the richest men in the Russian security forces.

Timur Ivanov and his wife Svetlana

The couple's villa in the south of France

The late opposition leader Alexei Navalny had claimed, in an investigation conducted in 2022, that the official in question transferred millions of dollars to his wife, who spent exorbitant sums on luxury yachts, jewelry, and shopping in Paris. When the first allegations were published, Ivanov allegedly “divorced” his wife Svetlana, who later presented herself as a “successful businesswoman” and took Israeli citizenship. She even moved to the resort of Courchevel, an area for the wealthy in France, while in Russia she is said to have more than 100 companies to her name.

Upon news of Ivanov's arrest, Maria Pevtsche, head of the anti-corruption fund founded by Navalny, wrote on social media that “today is a good day.”

Many Russian bloggers, close to the Kremlin, and who have long accused high-ranking officials in the Russian military establishment of incompetence and corruption, were also pleased with this development. Ivanov was also targeted for his lavish lifestyle, which ran counter to what Putin said he did not want to see from his government officials. “This is clearly a Teutonic change,” said Yuri Podolyaka, one of the most famous pro-Russian military bloggers. “And this is not about Ivanov…I hope this is just the beginning.”

The couple's huge mansion next to the Volga River

The yacht they had during their vacation in France

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, a close associate of Ivanov, had been warned of the impending arrest. Ivanov reportedly participated in meetings with Shoigu and other military officials the day before his imprisonment, and many see his arrest as indicative of a struggle within the Russian elite as well as a public statement of Putin's intentions to root out corruption plaguing Russia's armed military. Troops.

Kremlin leaks say Ivanov's arrest is the start of a major anti-corruption operation, based on evidence collected since 2019, and more mass removals and arrests are expected after May 7 and Putin's formal inauguration for his new term as president. According to information, Ivanov was scheduled to be arrested later, but it was accelerated due to the presence of his “ex-wife” in Moscow.

We also recall that last month Vladimir Putin ordered the Federal Security Service to root out corruption in state defense procurement. “Let's just say that the investigation did not start yesterday, or the day before yesterday, or even a month ago,” an unnamed source from Russian law enforcement agencies told the state-run TASS news agency. According to the same agency, the FSB's military counterintelligence service is also involved in the case.

Svetlana is behind the wheel of one of the couple's Rolls Royce cars

The couple in a luxurious party

Timur Ivanov drives a Rolls Royce and Svetlana enjoys it