A third person was arrested in the bribery investigation against Russian Deputy Defense Minister Timur Ivanov, a Moscow court announced today, quoted by Reuters.
According to the judicial authorities, the detained Alexander Fomin, who is a co-founder of the construction company "Olimpsitistroy", is suspected of paying bribes to Ivanov, who was arrested on Tuesday, as well as to Sergey Borodin, a close associate of Ivanov, who is also in custody.
The scandal that broke out is the biggest in years in the Russian Ministry of Defense and is a strong blow to the reputation of the Minister of Defense Sergei Shoigu, according to Reuters.
Judicial authorities said in a statement that Fomin is suspected of "performing services" for Ivanov, Borodin and others in the form of materials, labor and services related to residential renovations.
"Fomin and other persons, also acting as an organized criminal group, offered Ivanov to accept a large bribe in the form of illegal provision of services related to construction repairs," the statement said.