Russia Detains Former Deputy Defense Minister on Corruption Charges in the Latest Military Arrest
MOSCOW (AP) — In a significant development within the Russian military establishment, former Deputy Defense Minister Gen. Dmitry Bulgakov has been arrested on corruption charges, as confirmed by the Russian security services on Friday. This arrest marks the latest in a series of high-profile detentions that have raised concerns about corruption within the military ranks.
Bulgakov, who served as deputy defense minister from 2008 until his dismissal in September 2022, was taken into custody in Moscow. The Investigative Committee of Russia announced that he would remain in custody while investigations and legal proceedings unfold. Specific details regarding the charges have not been disclosed, but the implications of his arrest are profound, given his previous role overseeing logistics for the military.
His dismissal in 2022 was officially attributed to a reassignment; however, many analysts viewed it as a punitive measure following significant operational failures during the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. This decision came shortly after Ukrainian forces achieved notable territorial gains in the northeastern Kharkiv region, highlighting the pressures faced by military leadership amid the war.
Bulgakov's arrest is part of a broader crackdown on corruption within the military, with seven senior military officials having been detained in recent months on various charges, including fraud, bribery, and abuse of office. Notably, Deputy Defense Minister Timur Ivanov was arrested in April for bribery, further underscoring the systemic issues plaguing the defense sector.
This week alone has seen two significant arrests, with Andrei Belkov, the head of the Defense Ministry’s construction division, also detained on Thursday for suspected abuse of power. These developments signal a troubling trend within the Russian military, as the government grapples with accountability and transparency in a time of conflict.
As investigations continue, the implications of these arrests could reverberate throughout the military hierarchy, potentially reshaping the leadership landscape in the Russian defense establishment. The ongoing scrutiny of military officials reflects a critical moment for Russia as it navigates both internal challenges and external pressures in the context of the war in Ukraine.