The Russian Investigative Committee reported the seizure of more than 30 million rubles found in the accounts of former Deputy Defense Minister Pavel Popov. According to the investigation, Popov is accused of fraud committed by an organized group. Property worth more than 60 million rubles has been seized against him and other defendants. Other defendants in the case include Deputy Head of the Main Directorate for Innovative Development of the Ministry of Defense Vladimir Shesterov and Director of the Patriotic Military Park "Patriot" Vyacheslav Akhmedov.

The investigation is being conducted into the financial activities of Popov, who oversaw the work of the Patriot Park from 2021 to 2024. According to the investigation, the former deputy minister illegally used construction materials intended for the development of the park for his own needs. Construction materials and the labor of park employees were allegedly used at his dacha, located on a 3-hectare plot, which became the basis for the fraud charge.

Popov is under arrest in the Butyrka pretrial detention center until October 29, where he is provided with safe conditions of detention. The investigation is expected to continue and new information regarding financial violations within the activities of the Ministry of Defense may appear in the near future.