Russian Army Deputy Chief of Staff Arrested... Kremlin Palace Says "Not a Purge but Anti-Corruption Measure"

A high-ranking military official has been arrested again in Russia. The Kremlin dismissed interpretations that this is a 'purge' of the military, emphasizing it as part of the 'fight against corruption.'

Vladimir Putin, President of Russia. [Image source=Yonhap News]

On the 23rd (local time), Russian media including TASS reported that Lieutenant General Vadim Shamarin, Deputy Chief of Staff of the Russian Army and Head of the Communications Department, was arrested on charges of large-scale bribery, and a military court ordered a two-month detention the day before.

Given the charges of large-scale bribery, it is estimated that he received at least 1 million rubles (approximately 15 million KRW) worth of illicit payments. Detailed information about the charges has not been disclosed.

Dmitry Peskov, Kremlin spokesperson, stated at a briefing that "the fight against corruption is not a campaign but an ongoing effort," adding, "This effort is being carried out at all levels, including federal and municipal departments."

Previously, high-ranking officials of the Russian Ministry of Defense, such as former Deputy Minister Timur Ivanov and former Personnel Department Head Yuri Kuznetsov, were also detained on bribery charges. On the 17th, Ivan Popov, former commander of the Russian 58th Combined Arms Army who was dismissed last year after leading Russian forces at the forefront of the Ukraine 'special military operation,' was detained on fraud charges.