Russian Army General Popov Remains in Custody on Fraud Charges Before Trial

The Russian military court has decided to keep Major General Ivan Popov in pre-trial detention for two months, rejecting a request to transfer him to house arrest. Popov, who was arrested on May 17, is accused of misappropriating over 130 million rubles ($1.5 million) worth of metal purchased as “humanitarian aid” by Russian occupying authorities in southern Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia region.

Popov, who previously oversaw the defense of Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia as commander of the 58th Guards Combined Arms Army, was relieved from his post last summer after raising concerns about systemic mismanagement within the armed forces to top military officials.

Last week, investigators requested the 235th Garrison Military Court to move Popov to house arrest, but the request was denied during a hearing on Monday. This decision means that Popov will remain in pre-trial detention for at least two more months.

This case is part of a larger trend, as Popov is one of five senior Russian military officers who have been arrested on various charges since late April. Sources close to the Kremlin and Russia’s Defense Ministry have indicated that these arrests are part of an ongoing purge by the Federal Security Service (FSB) of high-ranking generals due to mishaps during the 2022 invasion of Ukraine and competition for defense funds.

On Friday, another military court rejected the defense’s appeal of Popov’s arrest at a closed-door hearing. The situation highlights the tensions within the Russian military establishment and the challenges faced by those who speak out against corruption and mismanagement.

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