Putin's crackdown: Popular general "Spartacus" sent to labor camp
Vladimir Putin cannot stand competition. The Russian dictator strives to quickly neutralize individuals whose popularity might threaten him. An example of Putin's actions is Gen. Ivan Popov, a Kremlin-loyal military officer who ended up in a labor camp because he is too well-liked by soldiers.
Gen. Popov is a former commander of the 58th Army. He participated in the wars with Georgia and Ukraine and is popular among soldiers. It is said that he is like "Spartacus," reportedly calling military personnel "gladiators." When some Russian generals fled in the face of the Ukrainian offensive, Popov and his soldiers continued to hold their ground on the front lines.
Despite his loyalty to Vladimir Putin, he was punished by the Kremlin regime. A court in Tambov found Ivan Popov guilty of stealing 2,200 tons of metal fittings, sentencing him to 5 years in a labor camp.
The military officer wanted to avoid prison. He proposed to Putin that he would go fight in Ukraine, even at the rank of a private. The Kremlin did not agree to overlook his offense, although in the past, the biggest Russian criminals had taken advantage of this option.
Media reports that pro-war soldiers and other generals began to defend Popov. Most claim that "Spartacus" never stole anything, suggesting he allegedly fell out of favor with Putin back in 2023.
He presented a report to Chief of the General Staff Valery Gerasimov, describing the disarray at the front. He believed that Russian actions were not coordinated.
After the report was revealed, Popov ceased to command the 58th Army and was transferred to Syria, which is considered a demotion. He was then called back to Russia, remained loyal to Putin, and was placed in a labor camp.
