What's happened
Pavel Baryshev, a former deputy minister in Russia, is under investigation for allegedly forging documents to acquire a three-bedroom apartment in Moscow. The Investigative Committee claims he committed large-scale fraud, potentially facing up to 10 years in prison. This case is part of a broader crackdown on corruption among high-ranking officials.
Why it matters
What the papers say
According to The Moscow Times, Baryshev is accused of using fraudulent documents to acquire an apartment valued at 20 million rubles. The Investigative Committee stated that he 'stole' the apartment through these means. Business Insider UK adds that the potential charge against him carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison, highlighting the severity of the allegations. The Independent notes that this case is part of a larger trend of high-profile arrests among military officials, suggesting a crackdown on corruption that may reshape the military leadership in Russia.
How we got here
Baryshev served as deputy minister for civil defense from 2017 to 2021 and later for natural resources until his dismissal in June 2024. His case follows a series of arrests of military and defense officials amid increasing scrutiny of corruption in Russia.
More on these topics
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Russia, or the Russian Federation, is a transcontinental country located in Eastern Europe and Northern Asia. Covering an area of 17,125,200 square kilometres, it is the largest country in the world by area, spanning more than one-eighth of the Earth's in
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The Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation has since January 2011 been the main federal investigating authority in Russia. Its name is usually abbreviated to Sledkom.
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Moscow is the capital and largest city of Russia. The megacity stands on the Moskva River in the central portion of Western Russia, with a population estimated at 12.6 million residents within the city limits, while over 17 million residents in the urban