MOSCOW, March 5 (Reuters) - Russia has charged a former deputy defence minister with corruption, investigators said on Thursday, in the latest of a series of prosecutions against top figures in the
Russia Charges Ex-Deputy Defence Minister Ruslan Tsalikov With Corruption
Corruption Charges and Prosecutions in Russia's Defence Ministry
Background of the Charges
MOSCOW, March 5 (Reuters) - Russia has charged a former deputy defence minister with corruption, investigators said on Thursday, in the latest of a series of prosecutions against top figures in the military establishment.
Details of the Accusations
The state Investigative Committee said Ruslan Tsalikov was accused of embezzlement, money laundering and bribe-taking.
Tsalikov's Tenure and the Broader Crackdown
Tsalikov served as first deputy defence minister from 2015 to 2024, when a series of corruption cases led to the arrest of a string of generals, deputy ministers and civilian defence civilians.
Other High-Profile Cases
Timur Ivanov's Conviction
Another former deputy minister, Timur Ivanov, was jailed for 13 years in July 2025.
Leadership Changes in the Defence Ministry
Roles of Ivanov and Tsalikov
Ivanov and Tsalikov served under Sergei Shoigu, a longtime ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin. Shoigu was removed as defence minister in 2024, and appointed secretary of Russia's Security Council.
(Reporting by Reuters, Writing by Felix Light; Editing by Mark Trevelyan)
