Russia opens fraud case against former deputy defense minister News
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Russia opens fraud case against former deputy defense minister

Russia’s Investigative Committee opened a fraud case on Thursday against former deputy defense minister Pavel Popov. On the same day, the Garrison Military Court ordered him held until October 29 in a decision by Judge Andrey Tolkachevo.

According to Svetlana Petrenko, a representative of the Investigative Committee, while Popov was in charge of the military-themed Patriot Park from 2021-2024, he enriched himself at the expense of the organization. He allegedly acted together with the park’s directors and the deputy head of the Main Directorate for Innovations at the Russian Defense Ministry.

“In addition, acting through his subordinates, he forced the heads of commercial organizations that had contractual relations with Patriot Park to perform construction and installation work at his countryside estate free of charge. After the construction of the house and performing improvements of the plot, Popov continued to have technical maintenance and upkeep of his plot of about 3 hectares at the expense of the park,” Petrenko stated.

Popov is a retired army officer who served as the Deputy Minister of Defense between 2013 and 2024. He also held other positions such as the Head of the Civil Protection Academy of the Ministry of Emergency Situations from 2004 to 2008 and the Deputy Minister of Emergency Situations from 2008 to 2013. He also has the rank of General of the Reserve Army.

After the meeting, Igor Dyukin, Popov’s lawyer reported that the former minister did not admit guilt. If convicted, Popov is facing up to 10 years imprisonment.

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