Moscow: Russia announced the completion of its investigation into former Deputy Defense Minister Pavel Popov, who was detained last August over fraud allegations.

According to Anadolu Agency, Investigative Committee spokeswoman Svetlana Petrenko stated that Popov is charged with crimes under five articles of the criminal code, including accepting a bribe, fraud, illegal possession of weapons, official forgery, and abuse of office. The investigation revealed that Popov, along with Defense Ministry official Vladimir Shesterov and Vyacheslav Akhmedov, the former director of Moscow’s Patriot Park, committed embezzlement between 2022 and 2024 by entering false information about construction work conducted at the theme park.

Patriot Park, established in 2014 in Kubinka, Moscow region, focuses on Russian military equipment and commemorates the Soviet Union’s victory in World War II. Last month, Shesterov was sentenced to six years in prison, while Akhmedov received a five-year sentence last week.

Petrenko highlighted that Popov accepted a bribe exceeding 45 million Russian rubles ($560,000) from a construction company’s general director between 2014 and 2024. It was also revealed that he illegally hired and dismissed Patriot Park employees, resulting in damages of over 8 million Russian rubles ($99,530). To secure potential fines, civil claims, and other property collections, Popov’s assets, totaling over 100 million Russian rubles ($1.2 million), were seized.

The investigation included a search of Popov’s home, where illegally stored firearms and ammunition were confiscated. Petrenko confirmed that items and documents were examined, forensic reports were obtained, and undeniable evidence was gathered, fully establishing Popov’s guilt.

Recently, several corruption cases have been filed against former and current high-ranking Russian military officials over corruption and embezzlement suspicions.