Head of Russia's Ministry of Defense Personnel Department Arrested on Bribery Charges

The head of the Personnel Department of the Russian Ministry of Defense, Yuri Kuznetsov, has been arrested in the capital, Moscow. Svetlana Petrenko, the official representative of the Russian Investigative Committee, announced that he is suspected of receiving a particularly large bribe (Article 290, Part 6 of the Russian Criminal Code).

"The Main Investigative Department of the Russian Investigative Committee has initiated a criminal case against Yuri Kuznetsov, head of the Personnel Department of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation, who is suspected of receiving a particularly large bribe," the statement said.

According to the investigation, between 2021 and 2023, Kuznetsov, as the head of the 8th Directorate of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces, received bribes from representatives of commercial entities in exchange for conducting certain actions in their favor.

Searches were conducted at the suspected locations of residence and registration, where more than 100 million rubles in cash, both in rubles and foreign currencies, as well as gold, collectible watches, and luxury items were discovered and seized.

The court has selected detention as a measure of restraint for Kuznetsov.