| Submit your comments on this article |
| Caucasus/Russia/Central Asia |
| The case of ex-commander Ivan Popov involved a general who died during the Special Military Operation |
| 2024-05-26 |
| Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited. [Regnum] The first defendant in the case of the theft of metal structures, which involves the former commander of the 58th Army of the Russian Armed Forces, Major General Ivan Popov, was another general who died in the special operation zone. Kommersant writes about this on May 25, citing sources. Popov is charged with fraud on an especially large scale (Part 4 of Article 159 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation). According to investigators, he was involved in the theft of more than 1,700 tons of metal structures worth more than 130 million rubles, which were intended for the construction of defensive fortifications in the Zaporozhye region. “Meanwhile, according to Kommersant’s sources, initially the materials featured a completely different general, who also participated in the Northern Military District. However, even before the start of a full-fledged investigation, he died and was posthumously awarded the title of Hero of Russia,” the publication says. The investigation believes that this general transferred part of the money allegedly raised from the sale of rolled metal to Popov’s bank card. Based on Part 4 of Article 159 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation, we are talking about at least 1 million rubles, but only 500 thousand rubles came to Popov’s card. Allegedly, he borrowed and did not steal this amount, the source notes. Popov's defense pointed out in court that Popov had nothing valuable at home. The investigation objected that the general lost about 30 million rubles on one of the online bookmaking sites, as evidenced by the data on his phone. Popov allegedly received this money as a result of fraud. The publication notes that Popov is accused of fraud committed by a group of people using military officials' official position. He did not admit the charge. As Regnum reported, on May 24, the Second Western District Military Court rejected the appeal to transfer Ivanov from the pre-trial detention center to house arrest. Both the defense and the investigation asked for this. The general will remain in custody. The hearing on the complaint was held behind closed doors. Earlier that same day, Popov failed to appear in court to consider a motion to change the preventive measure. Later, he was taken to the meeting from the pre-trial detention center and led into the hall, accompanied by one guard. Ivan Popov’s father, in a conversation with the agency, stated that his son was not guilty of anything. Popov Sr. is convinced that ill-wishers deliberately “digged” for the general. He called the current situation a “set-up.” Popov's colleagues also do not believe the version of the security forces. The soldiers are convinced that the general could not steal from his own people. According to them, he “jumped into the trenches with ordinary privates.” According to the source, an apartment in Rostov-on-Don worth from 3.5 million to 6.2 million rubles was registered in the name of the arrested major general. He also owns two cars - a Mitsubishi Outlander and a Cruze Chevrolet. In 2020, Popov’s salary was 75,000 rubles. Popov commanded the 58th Combined Arms Army in 2023. Previously, he was the chief of staff of the 22nd Army Corps of the Russian Armed Forces in Crimea and the chief of staff of the 11th Army Corps of the Russian Armed Forces in the Kaliningrad region. |
| Posted by:badanov |
| #1 "Popov's colleagues also do not believe the version of the security forces. The soldiers are convinced that the general could not steal from his own people. According to them, he “jumped into the trenches with ordinary privates.” With AI anything can be created. I prefer his soldiers comment. |
| Posted by: Dale 2024-05-26 16:58 |