When a Russian defense official is arrested in Russia, it’s something interesting. But when four high-ranking figures are handcuffed for less than a month, it is more than a model. It’s a purge, writes the BBC’s Russia editor, Steve Rosenberg.
The latest soldier to be jailed is General Vadim Shamarin, Deputy Chief of Staff of the Army General and Chief of the Main Directorate of Communications in the Russian Armed Forces.
He has been accused of bribery and will be in custody for two months before the trial begins.
A number of military figures have fallen from power due to allegations of corruption, including Deputy Defense Minister Timur Ivanov and Lieutenant General Yuri Kuznetsov.
There are also changes at the head of the ministry. In the latest reshuffle, President Vladimir Putin replaced embattled Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu with technocrat economist Andrei Belousov. This can be interpreted as an effort by the Kremlin to make the army more efficient and fight corruption.
The arrest of senior military figures reflects badly on the leadership of the military that has fueled Russia’s war in Ukraine.
There is an irony in all this.
Do you remember Yevgeny Prigozhin? A year ago, the chief mercenary of “Wanger” had publicly criticized the military chiefs. He had accused them of incompetence and corruption, while also blaming them for the failures on the war front in Ukraine. Prigozhin had criticized Sergei Shoigu and Valery Gerasimov. He had asked for their replacement.
These criticisms got out of control and fueled the 24-hour uprising of the “Wagner” group.
The mercenaries took control of military bases in southern Russia and began marching towards Moscow, challenging Putin’s authority. But Prigozhin aimed at the army leaders.
It failed. Putin met his army chiefs. Prigozhin lost the power struggle with Shoigu and Gerasimov. A few weeks later, he died in a plane crash.
But a year later, the Kremlin has started the purge of the army.
This also says something about President Putin. He does not like to act under pressure. That doesn’t mean he won’t act. He only acts when he feels like it.
It is not yet clear how this purge will proceed; how many figures will end up in prison.
The former commander of Russia’s 56th brigade, Ivan Popov, was arrested this week on suspicion of fraud.
Last year, he announced that he was dismissed from office after complaining about the problems on the war front in Ukraine.