A Russian military court has denied a request to transfer Major General Ivan Popov to house arrest and has ordered him to remain in pre-trial detention for two months. Popov was arrested on May 17 for allegedly misappropriating over 130 million rubles worth of metal bought as “humanitarian aid” by Russian occupying authorities in southern Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia region. Despite investigators requesting the transfer to house arrest, the court rejected the request and decided to keep Popov in detention for at least two months.
Previously, Popov was in charge of defending Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia as the commander of the 58th Guards Combined Arms Army. He was removed from his position last summer after voicing concerns about systemic mismanagement within the armed forces to military leadership. In a closed-door hearing on Friday, another military court turned down the defense’s appeal of Popov’s arrest. Popov is one of five senior Russian military officers arrested since late April on various charges.
Sources within the Kremlin and Russia’s Defense Ministry suggest that these arrests are part of an ongoing purge of high-ranking generals by the Federal Security Service (FSB) due to mishaps during the 2022 invasion of Ukraine and competition for defense funds. The arrests are seen as a way for the FSB to consolidate power and remove potential threats within the military leadership structure. The move is also fueled by a desire to root out corruption and inefficiencies in the armed forces.
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The arrest of Major General Ivan Popov is significant within the context of a wider crackdown on high-ranking military officials in Russia. These arrests are seen as part of a power struggle within the military and intelligence community, with the FSB asserting its authority and removing potential rivals. By targeting individuals like Popov, who have spoken out against mismanagement and corruption, the FSB sends a clear message of zero tolerance for dissent and wrongdoing within the military ranks.
The refusal to transfer Popov to house arrest and the decision to keep him in pre-trial detention indicate the seriousness of the allegations against him. The Russian military court’s ruling reflects the government’s commitment to cracking down on corruption and mismanagement within the armed forces. The ongoing purge of high-ranking generals signals a broader effort to clean up the military establishment and ensure loyalty to the Kremlin’s agenda. The outcome of Popov’s case will likely have far-reaching implications for the future of the Russian military leadership and the dynamics of power within the country’s security apparatus.
