Former Russian Deputy Defense Minister Sentenced to 19 Years for Corruption in Moscow
Former Russian Deputy Defense Minister Pavel Popov has been sentenced to 19 years in prison by a military court in Moscow for corruption. The charges against Popov, who was arrested in 2024, involve the misappropriation of funds intended for Patriot Park, a military-themed park in Moscow. This park, often referred to as Russia's 'military Disneyland,' was a project initiated by former Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu to instill national pride among the youth. Popov was found guilty of embezzling over 25 million rubles (approximately $324,000) from the park's budget for personal property renovations. Despite pleading not guilty, Popov was also fined 85 million rubles ($1.1 million). Alongside Popov, the park's director and Maj. Gen Vladimir Shesterov, a deputy in the Defense Ministry's innovations department, received prison sentences of six and five years, respectively. This case is part of a broader investigation into corruption within Russia's military leadership, implicating several officials connected to... 
