Prominent Russian retired general detained in Moscow.
According to news sources, Russian Major General Ivan Popov, who was let go for criticizing Moscow's handling of the war in Ukraine, has been taken into custody on allegations of fraud. The 49-year-old general, who's being looked into for a massive fraud scheme, has been remanded in custody for two months, as reported by the state news agency Tass, referencing a military court in Moscow.
As per the pro-Russian military blog Dwa Majora, Popov is being charged with misappropriating and selling army aid supplies worth 100 million roubles (equivalent to one million euros). Nonetheless, Popov's lawyer doesn't accept these claims. His lawyer mentioned that Popov's assets were nowhere near the sums mentioned in the blogs. The legal team is requesting an acquittal.
Popov served as the commander of the Russian 58th Army until summer 2023 and was involved in Russia's warfare against Ukraine. Notably, the 58th Army played a major role in the takeover of Mariupol and was present in the Zaporizhzhya region during Ukraine's counter-offensive last summer.
After enduring significant casualties, Popov voiced his disapproval of Moscow's management of the war and suggested rotating combat units to account for losses. Despite this, he was fired for his complaints. Gerasimov, the Chief of General Staff, described Popov — a highly esteemed commander respected by his troops — as an "alarmist." Upon his termination, Popov bade farewell to his soldiers with a recorded message, accusing the army leadership of ineffective leadership and treachery. This recording later made its way into the public eye.
Read also:
- Year of climate records: extreme is the new normal
- Precautionary arrests show Islamist terror threat
- UN vote urges Israel to ceasefire
- SPD rules out budget resolution before the end of the year
Despite the ongoing Ukraine war and his previous criticisms of Moscow's handling, the ex-General Ivan Popov, who commanded the Russian 58th Army involved in the conflict, now faces more critical charges of fraud in Moscow. The alleged misappropriation and sale of army aid supplies worth over a million euros have led to his detention.
Source: www.ntv.de
