Senior Russian Military Officer Arrested on Corruption Charges

A Russian investigative committee stated on Monday that a deputy commander of the Leningrad Military District has been arrested on suspicion of accepting a bribe of 20 million rubles ($224,000) in the latest episode of a series of corruption investigations.

The committee said in a statement that investigators claimed General Valery Muminianov helped several companies win contracts to supply the military with clothing in exchange for money.

Reuters was unable to reach his lawyer immediately, and it is unclear how the accused responded to the charges against him.

Several senior military officials have faced criminal investigations since the restructuring of the Ministry of Defense began in May when Andrei Belousov replaced Sergei Shoigu as Minister of Defense.