Arrest of Russian defense ministry deputy timur ivanov puts shoigu at a disadvantage ahead of expected government change - FT
Kyiv • UNN
The arrest and trial of Russian Deputy Defense Minister Timur Ivanov hints at the unfavorable fate of Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu ahead of the expected change of government.
The demonstrative arrest and trial of Russian Deputy Defense Minister Timur Ivanov hints at the same fate for Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu and puts him in a unfavorable light before the change of government. This opinion was expressed by a Financial Times source close to the Russian Ministry of Defense, UNN reports.
Details
This week, Russian Deputy Defense Minister Timur Ivanov attended a meeting of the senior military leadership, sitting separately from his boss in a high-ranking uniform. He was subsequently arrested on suspicion of corruption and taken to court in the same uniform, facing a lengthy prison sentence.
The arrest of Ivanov, who has long been known for his lavish lifestyle, is a serious blow to his mentor, Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, especially against the backdrop of the anticipated government reshuffle, the newspaper writes.
The article says that due to some military successes against Ukraine, Shoigu's team seemed to be "on the rise." However, with Vladimir Putin's new term in office next month and the expected rotation in the cabinet, the power struggle behind the scenes is intensifying.
The arrest of Ivanov indicates a change in circumstances for Sergei Shoigu, a source close to the Russian defense ministry told the Financial Times. This change is particularly noticeable given the striking manner in which Ivanov was brought to court.
"If they wanted to simply weaken Shoigu, they could have fired Ivanov first, which would have demonstrated a fight against corruption. Instead, Ivanov was arrested in uniform right after a meeting of the Defense Ministry board, where he was sitting next to Shoigu. "It's all scripted," the source added, hinting at a targeted attack on Shoigu.
Recall
Russian Deputy Defense Minister Timur Ivanov was arrested for high treason after Ukraine's Defense Ministry's Main Intelligence Directorate gained access to his confidential information through a cyberattack.
