In Moscow, the head of the 27th Central Research Institute (TsNII) of the Russian Ministry of Defense, Andrei Protasov, accused of receiving bribes worth millions of rubles, was taken into custody. This was reported on April 18, 2025, by the Main Military Investigative Department of the Investigative Committee of Russia (GVSU SKR). According to the investigation, between 2020 and 2025, Protasov systematically extorted money from subordinates for inclusion in a scientific group that received incentive payments, as well as for general patronage in official activities. The case, which has caused a wide resonance, highlights the problem of corruption in the structures responsible for the development of advanced military technologies.

According to the investigation materials, the 27th Central Research Institute carried out government contracts worth hundreds of millions of rubles between 2014 and 2024, related to the creation and implementation of innovative technologies for the needs of the Ministry of Defense. Andrei Protasov, who held a leadership position, oversaw the formation of an initiative scientific group, whose members received significant financial bonuses. Taking advantage of his position, he demanded large sums from the institute's employees - from several hundred thousand to millions of rubles - for inclusion in this group and the provision of career advantages. The total amount of bribes, according to preliminary data, is estimated at tens of millions of rubles, which qualifies as crimes on a large and especially large scale.

Protasov was detained as a result of a special operation conducted by FSB and military counterintelligence officers. During searches of his office and residences, documents confirming illegal financial transactions, as well as large sums of cash, were seized. The accused partially admitted his guilt and agreed to cooperate with the investigation, providing information about possible accomplices. The court chose a preventive measure in the form of detention, and the investigation continues to establish all the circumstances of the case.

Protasov’s case is part of a broader campaign to combat corruption in Russia’s defense sector. In 2024, the Russian Investigative Committee opened several cases against high-ranking officials in the Defense Ministry, including former Deputy Minister Timur Ivanov, who was accused of accepting bribes totaling over 1 billion rubles. According to TASS, more than 200 corruption crimes related to theft and abuse in the implementation of state defense orders were uncovered in the military last year alone. The 27th Central Research Institute, which specializes in developing control systems and information technology for the armed forces, was in the spotlight due to the strategic importance of its projects.