Former Russian deputy defence minister is sentenced to 19 years in prison
Former Russian deputy defence minister Pavel Popov has been sentenced in Russia to 19 years in a maximum-security penal colony and fined RUB 85 million (about US$1.1 million).
Source: Russia's state propaganda news agency RIA Novosti; Latvia-based Russian media outlet Meduza
Details: In Russia, Popov was accused of taking bribes, fraud, official forgery, abuse of office and illegal weapons possession.
He did not admit guilt.
Investigators claimed Popov, who was responsible for the development, maintenance and operation of the Russian Ministry of Defence's Patriot Park, stole more than RUB 30 million (US$389,000) together with the former deputy head of the Russian Ministry of Defence's Innovation Development Department, Vladimir Shesterov, and park director Vyacheslav Akhmedov. The Russian Defence Ministry's Patriot Park is a theme park in Kubinka, Russia, dedicated to Russian military equipment and the Soviet Union's victory in World War II.
Russian investigators believe Popov spent money allocated to Patriot Park on building a dacha, bathhouse and garage on a plot of land belonging to his son.
Akhmedov and Shesterov made pre-trial deals with the investigation.
Popov was also stripped of his rank of retired army general.
Background:
- In August 2024, Russian authorities detained Vyacheslav Akhmedov and Vladimir Shesterov on suspicion of large-scale fraud.
- In July 2025, a Moscow court sentenced former Russian deputy defence minister Timur Ivanov to 13 years in prison for embezzlement and money laundering.
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