Russian general gets detained due to allegations of corruption, embezzlement

(MENAFN) Colonel General Viktor Strigunov, who served as the first deputy chief of Russia’s national guard (Rosgvardiya) from 2020 to 2023, has been arrested on allegations of corruption and embezzlement.

Russian authorities announced on Monday that a criminal investigation was launched following a joint inquiry by the Investigative Committee, the Federal Security Service (FSB), and Rosgvardiya’s internal security division.

One of the alleged offenses dates back to Strigunov’s tenure at the Interior Ministry before Rosgvardiya’s establishment in 2016. Investigators claim that in 2014, Strigunov supervised a construction contract for a training center in the Kemerovo Region. Despite being aware of significant issues that would hinder the facility’s operation, he reportedly instructed subordinates to continue the project.

“As a result, the terms of the contract were not fulfilled [and] the training center was not put into operation, which resulted in a loss of more than 2 billion rubles ($25 million) to the state,” the Investigative Committee said.

Strigunov also faces accusations of accepting bribes totaling over 66 million rubles ($840,000) from construction firms between 2012 and 2014. These payments allegedly secured favorable treatment and lucrative government contracts for those companies.

If convicted, Strigunov could face up to 15 years in prison along with a substantial fine.

This arrest comes shortly after a Moscow court sentenced former deputy defense minister Timur Ivanov to 13 years in a penal colony and a heavy fine for embezzlement. A former subordinate was also sentenced to 12 years in prison and fined.

Several other high-ranking military officials have been detained on corruption charges following a significant shake-up at Russia’s Defense Ministry last year.

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