A former Russian deputy defense minister has been arrested on suspicion of fraud. The scene of the incident was Patriot Park, a military exhibition center closely associated with the administration.

On the 29th, the Russian Federal Investigative Committee announced that it had detained former Deputy Defense Minister Pavel Popov on suspicion of fraud.

Popov is accused of embezzling funds from the Patriot Park military exhibition center on the outskirts of Moscow when he was in charge of operations and development there from 2021 to 2024.

The Federal Investigative Committee is also looking into the circumstances surrounding the purchase of real estate owned by Popov and his family in upscale residential areas of Moscow, worth a total of more than 500 million rubles (approximately 800 million yen).

So far, two people, including a deputy director of the Ministry of Defense, have been arrested in connection with Patriot Park.

Popov is said to be one of the long-time aides to Security Council Secretary Shoigu, who stepped down as Defense Minister in May of this year.

Source: Japanese