**Russian Ex-Commander Sentenced to 5 Years in Prison for Large-Scale Fraud**
In a significant development, Ivan Popov, the disgraced former commander of Russia’s 58th Army fighting in Ukraine, has been sentenced by a Russian military court to five years imprisonment for his involvement in a large-scale fraud. According to Interfax news agency, which reported on April 24, Popov was also stripped of his military rank as major general and fined 800,000 rubles ($9,600).
**The Scandal Unfolds**
Popov’s troubles began in May 2024 when he was arrested on suspicion of taking part in the theft of 1,700 metric tons of metal intended for building fortifications in the Russian-occupied part of Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia Oblast. The fraud reportedly caused damages of 115 million rubles ($1.4 million). Popov’s co-defendant, businessman Sergei Moiseyev, was sentenced to four years and fined 600,000 rubles ($7,200).
**Popov Pleads Not Guilty**
Despite the severe sentence, Popov has maintained his innocence and plans to appeal the verdict. The Russian media reported that he had sought to avoid a prison sentence by requesting permission to return to the front in Ukraine. However, this request was denied by the court, according to Popov’s lawyer Sergei Buinovsky.
**A Glimpse into Russia’s Military**
The sentencing of Popov and Moiseyev sheds light on the corruption and mismanagement within Russia’s military. The involvement of high-ranking officials in large-scale fraud is a worrying sign of the lack of accountability within the Russian Armed Forces. Furthermore, the reported attempt by Popov to directly appeal to the Kremlin over poor battlefield conditions suggests that there may be deeper issues with the way the war is being managed.
**What’s Next?**
As Popov prepares to appeal his sentence, it remains to be seen how this scandal will unfold. Will he succeed in overturning the verdict, or will his crimes catch up with him? Whatever the outcome, one thing is clear: corruption and mismanagement within Russia’s military are significant concerns that need to be addressed.
Read More @ kyivindependent.com
