Several high-ranking Russian military officials, including Major General Alexander Ogloblin, have been arrested on charges of corruption. Ogloblin is currently in pre-trial detention for allegedly accepting bribes from a telecommunications company to secure defense ministry contracts. He had previously been sentenced to four and a half years for embezzlement but was released early after testifying against his former superior, Vadim Shamarin. Shamarin, in turn, accused Ogloblin of accepting bribes as part of a plea deal with investigators, leading to Ogloblin’s second arrest.
The investigation into corruption within Russia’s defense ministry is seen by some as a clampdown on officials appointed by former defense minister Sergei Shoigu, who is now the Russia Security Council secretary. The arrest of Ogloblin and other high-ranking military figures may be an indication of a broader crackdown within the Russian military. British defense attache John Foreman believes that the noose is tightening around Shoigu, possibly implicating him in corruption as well. However, so far there is no sign of a purge within the general staff or against other key military figures.
Andrei Soldatov, a senior fellow at the Centre for European Policy Analysis, noted that the arrests have mainly targeted defense ministry staff involved in corruption related to procurement and logistics. Despite these arrests, the army remains relatively untouched, and many high-ranking military officers are still fighting in Ukraine. The arrests seem to be aimed at improving the supply of resources, rather than punishing generals for errors on the battlefield. The ongoing investigations and arrests could be part of an effort to reassert control over the Defense Ministry or indicate a turf battle between the military and security services.
In addition to Ogloblin, several other defense ministry officials have been arrested on suspicion of corruption, including deputy defense minister Timur Ivanov and various high-ranking generals. These officials are facing charges of bribery and abuse of office, with potential penalties of up to 15 years in prison. The arrests began before Putin’s fifth term as president and have sparked speculation about his motives. Some believe that the arrests are aimed at reducing corruption to more manageable levels within the defense ministry, rather than completely eradicating it. The goal may be to limit corruption’s impact on the department’s functioning overall.
The situation in Russia’s defense ministry is complex, with multiple high-ranking officials facing corruption charges. The arrests of Ogloblin and others are part of a broader investigation into corruption within the military. There is speculation about whether these arrests signal a power struggle within the Russian government or a more systemic effort to reduce corruption levels within the defense ministry. As the investigation continues, it remains to be seen how far-reaching the implications will be for the Russian military and its leadership.
