Russia: Former Deputy Defence Minister charged with fraud

In Russia, former Deputy Defense Minister General of the Army Pavel Popov has been detained. He is accused of fraud in constructing and maintaining the "Patriot" Park.

According to the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation, Popov, while responsible for the implementation of "Patriot" Park, enriched himself at its expense by "acting together with the park’s director Vyacheslav Akhmedov and the Deputy Head of the Main Directorate for Innovative Development of the Ministry of Defense, Vladimir Shesterov."

The number of thefts exceeded 30-40 million rubles ($540,000 - $720,000 CAD).

It was found that Popov "organized construction and renovation work at the park’s expense, as well as the delivery of various material assets to his farmland in the Krasnogorsk district."

Additionally, he forced the heads of commercial organizations to "carry out construction and installation work in his apartments without paying for it."

Popov and his family own properties in prestigious districts of Moscow, the Moscow region, and the Krasnodar Territory. Their total cost is over 500 million rubles ($9 million). On June 17th, Putin decreed that Popov be dismissed.

The former Deputy Minister faces 10 years in prison.

"Patriot" Park is a theme park in Kubinka, Russia, centered around the equipment of the Russian army and the Soviet Union's victory in World War II.

The park houses the Aviation Museum at the Kubinka airbase and the Tank Museum in Kubinka. In 2020, the construction of the Main Cathedral of the Russian Armed Forces was completed. Work is ongoing to establish the Museum of the Armed Forces. Since 2015, the park has hosted the International Military-Technical Forum "Army."

The park covers an area of approximately 5,260 hectares, and the shooting ranges are spread over around 160 hectares.