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Former Russian General Sentenced to 7 Years for Bribery
A former high-ranking Russian general has been sentenced to seven years in prison following accusations of accepting bribes. The conviction is part of a broader anti-corruption effort within the Russian defense ministry.
Bribery Charges Detailed
Lieutenant General Vadim Shamarin was apprehended last year during a Kremlin-initiated crackdown on corruption inside the Ministry of Defence. He was charged with receiving “a particularly large bribe” from a telecommunications company.
According to Russia’s Investigative Committee, Shamarin accepted bribes amounting to 36 million roubles (£331,000) between 2019 and 2023. These illicit payments originated from a factory manufacturing communications equipment. In return, Shamarin reportedly increased the value of state contracts awarded to the aforementioned company.
Prior to his arrest, Shamarin served as deputy chief of the army’s general staff, where his responsibilities included overseeing the signals corps and military communications.
Sentence and Penalties
Russia’s Tass news agency, citing Shamarin’s legal representative, stated that the sentence comprised seven years in a maximum-security penal colony. Furthermore, he received a seven-year prohibition from holding public office, and was stripped of his military rank.
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The court also mandated the confiscation of 36 million roubles from Shamarin, as reported by RIA Novosti news agency.
Part of Anti-Corruption Drive in Defence Ministry
Shamarin is among multiple senior defence ministry officials detained in the past year. This group includes Deputy Defence Minister Timur Ivanov and Lieutenant General Yuri Kuznetsov, who headed the defence ministry’s personnel directorate.
These detentions occurred after Russian President Vladimir Putin dismissed Sergei Shoigu, the long-serving Defence Minister, in May 2024.
Shoigu was succeeded by Andrei Belousov, an economist with limited military experience.
Experts suggest this anti-corruption crackdown signifies an attempt by the Kremlin to enhance efficiency within the Russian military apparatus.