Major General Ivan Popov, previously celebrated for his battlefield success, faces a five-year prison sentence, highlighting conflicts within the Russian military hierarchy.
# Major General Sentenced in Russia for Criticizing Military Leadership
# Major General Sentenced in Russia for Criticizing Military Leadership
A court ruling against a former commander raises alarms about political persecution within the Russian military.
In a significant development within Russia's military establishment, a Russian court sentenced Major General Ivan Popov to five years in a low-security penal colony on Thursday. The former commander, who had been vocal about the incompetence of senior military leaders, was found guilty of corruption related to the misappropriation of military materials—a charge his supporters claim is an act of political retaliation.
General Popov's dismissal from the Russian Army in July 2023 marked him as one of the most notable victims of a military purge following the failed mutiny led by Yevgeny V. Prigozhin. Earlier in 2023, Popov was credited with successfully countering a substantial Ukrainian offensive in the Zaporizhzhia region. However, after voicing his concerns about the battlefield strategies and calling out the senior command, he faced a swift and harsh response from military authorities.
In a poignant four-minute audio message shared with his troops, General Popov expressed his belief that he was removed for his candidness regarding the failures of military leadership during critical moments. He criticized the top brass, insinuating that high-ranking officials such as General Valery V. Gerasimov, head of Russia's armed forces, had betrayed the troops during pivotal battles.
Following the release of his audio statement by Andrei Gurulyov, a former general and current lawmaker, Popov's popularity soared among traditional military elites and staunch pro-war factions. Nevertheless, he was soon arrested under allegations of embezzling military materials. Intriguingly, this type of corruption was also previously insinuated against General Gerasimov by Prigozhin through vulgar accusations in his own media segments.
During a closed session, the military court not only levied a fine of over $9,000 against Popov but also stripped him of his military rank. His legal team has announced plans to appeal the ruling.
Popov’s case has sparked dissent among some of his influential supporters, marking a rare instance of opposition within the pro-war ultranationalist community since the turbulent events surrounding Prigozhin's mutiny and subsequent demise. Military blogger Yuri Podoliaka, speaking to his three million Telegram followers, vowed that Russia would remember Ivan Popov as a heroic figure who withstood significant military challenges, lamenting the lack of legal justice in the case.
As the Russian military continues to grapple with internal strife amid the ongoing conflict, General Popov's sentencing could have far-reaching implications for morale and the command structure within the armed forces.
