Russian defense shakeup: Smiles, betrayals, and arrests
Nikolai Patrushev, an assistant to the President of Russia, and Interior Minister Vladimir Kolokoltsev smiled broadly as Defense Minister Andrey Belousov thanked his predecessor, Sergei Shoigu, for "achievements in the development of the defense department."
6:33 PM EST, December 16, 2024
"I would like to sincerely thank Sergei Shoigu for creating a solid foundation in the development of the armed forces," Belousov said during the expanded Monday meeting of the Ministry of Defense's board under the chairmanship of Vladimir Putin.
They couldn't contain their laughter
As Belousov spoke these words, the camera showed Sergei Shoigu. Like the rest of the participants, he maintained a stone-faced expression. The Moscow Times noted that only Patrushev and Kolokoltsev smiled conspicuously.
Shoigu served as defense minister for over 12 years and was dismissed in May 2024 after failed attempts to secure a military victory over Ukraine. He took the position of Secretary of the Security Council, and three of his former deputies were arrested on corruption charges.
A series of arrests in the Russian ministry
In the summer of 2024, Pavel Popov, a former deputy head of the Ministry of Defense, was arrested on charges of fraud related to the construction of the "Patriot" park.
Earlier, the court arrested two other of Shoigu's deputies—Dmitry Bulgakov for corrupt transactions worth 1.3 billion rubles.
Timur Ivanov also received a sentence for accepting a bribe of 1.2 billion rubles.
Vadim Shamarin, deputy chief of the General Staff, and Yuri Kuznetsov, head of the Main Personnel Directorate of the Ministry of Defense, were also arrested.
