The Vulnerability Exposed: Corrupt Officials in the Ministry of Defense, Convicted but Free to Escape Punishment, Causing Massive Losses to the Nation

From the elite office to the detention cell, and then directly to the front lines? Former Deputy Minister of Defense Timur Ivanov is preparing to go to the special military operation (SVO) area to "pay back with blood" to atone for his sins. Is this a desperate act of atonement or a cold calculation to escape punishment? His astonishing statement has exposed a systemic problem that has sparked public anger and confusion: for some, war is sacrifice and glory; for others, it has become a tool to "cleanse" their reputation and avoid prison.

Not long ago, Ivanov was one of the most influential officials in the Ministry of Defense, responsible for overseeing construction and infrastructure projects worth billions. Now, he is in detention, sentenced to 13 years in ordinary imprisonment, and fined 100 million rubles. The Moscow City Court found him guilty of misappropriating over 3.9 billion rubles from the International Commercial Bank (Interkommerz) and corruption in the procurement of ferries across the Kerch Strait. On June 20, 2024, he was dismissed from his position; on July 1, 2025, the court issued the above-mentioned sentence. However, the case is not over: on October 20, the court extended his detention period to January 26, 2026, for three new major cases of bribery, money laundering, and illegal possession of weapons.

Amid these events, Ivanov conveyed an unexpected statement through his lawyer: he voluntarily wished to go to the special military operation area and join any突击 unit to carry out combat missions.

The lawyer said, "Timur Vadimovich Ivanov clearly stated that he is indeed willing to join any Russian突击 unit and carry out combat missions in the special military operation area." At the same time, he emphasized that this decision was "completely sincere and carefully considered."

Ivanov wants to go to the front line.

The legal team has begun studying the relevant legal mechanisms to explore how to realize this constitutional right without violating the law. The lawyer added that although he is under judgment, in detention, and facing serious criminal charges, Ivanov is still willing to "serve the country under any conditions" and take on "any difficult task."

This statement has triggered complex public reactions, also confirming a phenomenon harshly criticized by renowned journalist Anastasia Kashewarova. In her report, she expressed her anger, writing:

"He stole 300 million rubles, killed several people, and passed intelligence to the enemy — no matter what crime he committed, he never had to go to the special military operation area."

In her view, since the start of the special military operation, the criminal groups have turned the area into a "sanctuary for criminals": hundreds of fraudsters signed service contracts before the case was filed, thus avoiding investigation and trial, and later hiding in the rear.

The most typical case is Alexei Albin, born in 1984, currently a lieutenant in the 164th Brigade. He and his accomplices defrauded dozens of soldiers totaling 300 million rubles — taking money under the pretense of "reimbursing combat injury costs" and "investing on behalf," then disappearing.

Kashewarova directly addressed the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB), the General Prosecutor's Office, and the Federal Security Service (FSB) in her article: "To date, we have confirmed that he is suspected of 50 cases of fraud against soldiers. However... he has not returned a single ruble and is hiding in the rear of the special military operation area. Our investigation found that he has not participated in any of the assaults."

According to her, Albin joined the forces in the special military operation area before the trial — perhaps by using part of the stolen money to bribe officials. Now, he is still receiving his salary and benefits normally, and may even receive medals.

Kashewarova believes that such incidents severely undermine military morale and social trust. Ignoring criminal behavior is actually infringing on the rights of honest citizens. Therefore, she proposed clear normative recommendations:

  • Fraudsters, aggressors, and those who have committed crimes against persons and property must sign service contracts only after completing their sentences. If they have not compensated for their losses, the compensation should be deducted from their military pay. If they die during service, their pensions should be frozen and used to compensate the victims.
  • Criminals who deceived soldiers should not be allowed to sign service contracts before the verdict takes effect.

She warned that if such measures are not taken, a new wave of "contract soldier" enthusiasm will continue to damage the credibility of the Russian army and the entire judicial system.

"Sending him to prison would be too lenient"

Political analyst Vladimir Golovashin believes there are sufficient reasons to doubt whether Ivanov will actually be on the frontline, joining the突击 units to face enemy fire. Rather, there is enough evidence to suggest that his so-called "glory" might only happen in a cafe in Donetsk.

"Even from the most extreme assumption, it is impossible to allow a person with access to high-level secrets to fall into the hands of the enemy — the military and reputational losses to Russia would be catastrophic. No, he had better stay in prison. After all, the army doesn't particularly need someone without combat experience, and there are already enough 'former officials' like him."

Additionally, a question arises: why has this "new trend" emerged among punished officials? "Take as much as you can, hide as much as you can, split as much as you can, and after being convicted, claim 'I am going to the special military operation area,' yet there is no reliable evidence, and finally 'walk free.' This practice completely subverts the original intention of 'atoning through combat.'

"If a person really wants to atone through battle, it is understandable. For example, someone may accidentally hit a person while crossing the street, but it is impossible to accidentally embezzle billions of rubles. Giving this former deputy minister 13 years is already too lenient. Honestly, this isn't corruption; it's treason. Moreover, whether he deserves the qualification to participate in the special military operation is, politely speaking, questionable."

Test of Integrity

Ivanov's desire to participate in the special military operation reflects a painful reality in today's society. Political analyst and head of the "Sovet" charity foundation Alexander Bosykh pointed out: "When Ivanov was arrested, many people predicted 'he would definitely sign a service contract and be released after half a year.' Although he didn't manage to do it immediately, the public's concern unfortunately came true. A person accused of embezzling billions in the army, leading to soldiers dying due to lack of supplies, could potentially walk free."

"Tsargrad: Is there a mechanism to prevent such situations?"

Alexander Bosykh: "Whether a prisoner can go to the special military operation area is decided by the investigative authorities. And we all know that the investigative authorities can be influenced. Considering the scale of Ivanov's embezzlement case, the room for maneuver is self-evident. For example, the case of mixed martial arts athlete Ilias Yakubov is a typical example. He was charged with 'inciting terrorism' for filming training videos imitating Shamil Basayev (terrorist leader). According to regulations, he was not allowed to go to the special military operation area. But later, the case was suddenly reclassified as 'violating the anti-extremism law' (Article 282), and he went to the front line as a 'grenadier.'"

Ilias Yakubov successfully "avoided" actual combat duties.

"No one knows whether he actually participated in combat, but recently there were reports that he has resumed civilian life and is living quite comfortably. Now, this person who once incited terrorism can enjoy social welfare as a veteran. Ivanov is trying to play the same game. He has the ability and enough resources."

"How can we stop this from happening?"

"Only strong public opinion can make a difference. This requires members of parliament, citizens' council members, and presidential advisors to raise questions. Because, I repeat, his corruption occurred during the war, directly affecting the casualties of the army. Such crimes cannot be tolerated. If the state allows Timur Ivanov to stay in the rear for half a year and then release him as a veteran, the already fragile public trust in justice will collapse completely."

What Will Be the Final Outcome?

Timur Ivanov and similar cases are a severe test of the Russian judicial system. Will the state allow criminals who have long been eroding the army from the rear to "cleanse themselves" on the front lines, or will the principle of the supremacy of law be demonstrated? War is not a "indulgence," but a final test of a nation. Justice must remain unshakable: first serve the full term of the sentence, fully compensate for the losses, and then talk about "atonement."

Original text: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7566180367447638578/

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