DEPUTY MINISTER JAILED PENDING BRIBERY PROBE

A Russian deputy defence minister in charge of military construction projects and accused of living a lavish lifestyle was ordered jailed Wednesday pending an investigation and trial on charges of bribery, court officials said in a statement.

Timur Ivanov, one of 12 deputy defence ministers, appeared in Moscow's Basmany court Wednesday wearing his military uniform. The ally of Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu was arrested Tuesday evening, Russia's Investigative Committee said in a statement.

The committee gave no further information, apart from saying Ivanov is suspected of taking an especially large bribe — an offence punishable by up to 15 years in prison.

The Kremlin rejected some Russian media reports that Ivanov was suspected of treason.

Ivanov, 48, was sanctioned by both the United States and European Union in 2022 after Russia's fullscale invasion of Ukraine.

According to a court statement, investigators told the judge that Ivanov had conspired with third parties to receive a bribe in the form of unspecified property services “during contracting and subcontracting work for the needs of the Ministry of Defence.”

An acquaintance of Ivanov's, identified as Sergei Borodin, also was arrested and ordered jailed pending an investigation and trial on the same charges, court officials said. Both men are to remain in custody until at least June 23.

Russia's state news agency RIA Novosti quoted Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov as saying that Shoigu and President Vladimir Putin were informed of Ivanov's arrest.