A Russian general has been arrested amid corruption allegations after being reported by a former superior.
This arrest of Major General Alexander Ogloblin, previously the chief of Russia’s military communications, adds to a growing list of high-profile military detentions, leading to speculation of a crackdown on senior military officials connected to President Vladimir Putin.
According to Russia’s Investigative Committee, Ogloblin is accused of accepting bribes totaling 10 million rubles (approximately $103,000) from a telecom company in exchange for securing defense ministry contracts, as detailed by the business publication Kommersant.
This isn’t Ogloblin’s first brush with the law; he was sentenced to four and a half years for embezzlement in February 2022, although he was released early after testifying against his former boss, Vadim Shamarin, deputy chief of Russia’s General Staff. However, it appears that Ogloblin’s recent arrest was prompted by Shamarin’s testimony against him, according to Kommersant.
Shamarin was implicated in a bribery scheme involving procurement kickbacks from the Perm Telephone Plant Telta and disclosed his arrangement with Ogloblin during a plea deal, an act reported by the outlet New Voice of Ukraine, which speculated that Shamarin may be seeking revenge against Ogloblin.
While former Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu has not yet faced charges, experts suggest that future testimonies might implicate him as well.
Mikhail Svetlov/Getty Images
The British Ministry of Defense has indicated that Ogloblin’s arrest could signal a broader initiative by Russian authorities to crack down on both current and former defense officials linked to Shoigu, who now serves as the secretary of Russia’s Security Council.
John Foreman, a former British defense attaché, remarked that the investigations by Russia’s FSB are gradually progressing within the military ministry, revealing a long-running corruption saga.
Interestingly, Major General Valery Gerasimov, commander of Russian forces in Ukraine, has yet to be targeted despite expectations. “Both Gerasimov and Ogloblin will turn 70 next year,” noted Foreman, “but so far, they remain unscathed.”
Furthermore, significant military figures have come under scrutiny, including former deputy defense minister Pavel Popov, linked to procurement issues, and Valery Mumindzhanov, implicated in corrupt supply chains for troops in Ukraine.
The overarching aim of these arrests appears to focus on improving resource supply rather than solely punishing military blunders, enabling the Russian army to continue its operations.
Recent detentions in the ministry include Timur Ivanov, a deputy minister, arrested this April on bribery suspicions related to military construction projects. Other high-ranking officials like Shamarin, Maj. Gen. Ivan Popov, and Lt. Gen. Yury Kuznetsov have also faced bribery charges.
The wave of arrests seems to have coincided with President Putin’s fifth term and the replacement of longtime minister Shoigu, leading to discussions of whether these actions are a power play between the military and security services or a means to reassert control over the Defense Ministry.
As per the Ministry of Defense update, the current strategy is likely not to eliminate corruption but to manage it effectively to minimize its disruptive effects on military operations.
Update 10/30/24, 2:22 p.m. ET: This article has been refined with insights from John Foreman.
Update 10/31/24, 3:20 a.m. ET: This article has been enhanced with commentary from Andrei Soldatov.