Corruption Crackdown: Russian Ex-Deputy Defence Minister Sentenced

Former Russian Deputy Defence Minister Timur Ivanov has been sentenced to 13 years in a penal colony after being found guilty of corruption. The verdict represents the most severe punishment in a series of graft cases involving defence ministry officials. Ivanov's arrest in April 2024 was followed by numerous corruption charges, including bribery and embezzlement.

The trial, conducted behind closed doors due to state secrecy concerns, also saw Anton Filatov, a former logistics firm head tried alongside Ivanov, receive a sentence of 12 and a half years. State media reported that a total of 4.1 billion roubles ($48.8 million) had been illicitly transferred abroad.

This development is part of a broader crackdown orchestrated by President Vladimir Putin to address corruption and inefficiencies in military spending, amid Russia's ongoing conflict with Ukraine. With defence spending comprising 32% of the federal budget, the government is intensifying efforts to root out and penalize internal corruption.

(With inputs from agencies.)