Russian Deputy Head of Army Staff Arrested for Bribery
In a recent development amidst ongoing purges within Russia's top offices, Lieutenant-General Vadim Shamarin, the deputy head of the army's general staff, has been arrested on suspicion of large-scale bribe-taking. This news comes as part of a broader effort to curb corruption associated with lucrative military contracts.
Shamarin's arrest follows the detention of other high-ranking defense officials, including Major-General Ivan Popov, the former top commander in Russia's military action in Ukraine, and Lieutenant-General Yuri Kuznetsov, the head of the Defence Ministry's personnel directorate. Both were arrested on bribery charges earlier this month.
In April, Russian Deputy Defence Minister Timur Ivanov, a close associate of former Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu, was also arrested for alleged bribery. Shoigu was subsequently dismissed by President Putin and replaced by economist Andrei Belousov.
Shamarin served as a deputy to General Valery Gerasimov, Russia's head of the general staff. While Gerasimov has not been accused of any wrongdoing, he has faced criticism over the performance of Russia's military in Ukraine.
The Kremlin has denied claims that the arrests are part of a targeted purge, stating that the fight against corruption is an ongoing effort and not a campaign.
The ongoing arrests and investigations highlight the Russian government's efforts to address corruption within its military ranks. The extent of the problem and the long-term impact of these actions remain to be seen.