Former Russian General Sentenced to Seven Years for Bribery

Vadim Shamarin, a former deputy chief of Russia’s General Staff and head of military communications, was sentenced to seven years in a high-security prison for accepting bribes totaling around 36 million rubles from a communications equipment factory in exchange for awarding increased state contracts. The court also stripped him of his military rank, confiscated assets of similar value, and banned him from holding public office for seven years. Shamarin’s prosecution is part of a broader crackdown on corruption within Russia’s Defense Ministry, which has seen multiple senior officials arrested following last year’s dismissal of longtime Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu. Russian authorities present these actions as part of President Putin’s drive to address graft and inefficiency in the military amid the ongoing war in Ukraine. Observers note that this anti-corruption campaign comes as the Russian military faces scrutiny over its conduct and spending. Shamarin reportedly pleaded guilty and reached a plea deal with investigators, though some trials have proceeded behind closed doors.