Russia opens fraud case against ex-Defense Minister Popov

The Russian Investigative Committee has launched a criminal case against former Defense Minister Pavel Popov, accusing him of fraud. Popov, who served as Deputy Minister of Defense from 2013 until June 2024, was reportedly arrested, though this was not confirmed in the official statement.

Popov is accused of misusing funds from Patriot Park, a Ministry of Defense facility he oversaw from 2021 to 2024, to finance construction work on his private estate in the Krasnogorsk region. Investigators allege that he coerced contractors to work on his property for free and continued to use park resources to maintain his estate.

In addition, Popov and his relatives allegedly own multiple properties in prestigious areas, worth over 500 million rubles, which are now under investigation.

The case is part of a broader crackdown on corruption within Russia’s defense sector, which has seen several high-ranking officials arrested since April 2024.