Once a prominent figure in Russia’s defense leadership, Timur Ivanov is now headed to prison.
The former Deputy Defense Minister has been sentenced to 13 years behind bars following a dramatic corruption trial that revealed shocking levels of embezzlement and money laundering at the heart of the Russian military establishment.
Unusual Courtroom, Familiar Verdict
Because of ongoing renovations at the Moscow City Court, the final verdict was delivered in an unusual location—a converted historical building that used to be an almshouse run by the Evangelical Charitable Society.
But the setting didn’t soften the blow for Ivanov.
He was found guilty on two major counts: large-scale embezzlement and laundering billions of rubles.
On top of the prison time, he lost his prestigious title of “Honored Builder of the Russian Federation” and was hit with a hefty 100 million ruble fine.
Co-Conspirator Also Sentenced
Ivanov wasn’t the only one brought down in the trial.
His former colleague Anton Filatov, who previously led the defense logistics agency Oboronlogistika, was sentenced to 12.5 years.
The court also sided with the civil claims filed by the Defense Ministry’s GUOV division and the Deposit Insurance Agency, awarding them a combined total of more than 4 billion rubles.
What Exactly Did They Do?
At the heart of the case was a suspicious ferry deal from 2015.
The Defense Ministry had arranged to buy two Greek ferries—Maria-Eleni and Finix-Salaminos.
Due to Western sanctions, the deal was routed through a web of intermediaries, including a Hong Kong-based firm.
The ferries ended up being sold to a Russian military logistics company at a highly inflated price, effectively laundering millions through fake consulting fees and currency deals.
But that wasn’t all. The second major accusation involved Intercommerz Bank, which went bankrupt shortly afterward.
Ivanov and his network allegedly carried out fictitious currency exchanges and sent the money abroad, using fake equipment purchases as a cover.
The court found they had laundered nearly 4 billion rubles this way.
The Fallout: Luxury Assets Seized
In addition to prison time, Ivanov’s considerable assets were seized.
That includes lavish properties in the elite Rublyovka district, a luxury car collection, and various bank accounts—all totaling over 2.5 billion rubles.
Prosecutors had asked for even harsher sentences—14.5 years for Ivanov—but the court settled on slightly less.
Closed-Door Proceedings and Legal Pushback
Much of the trial was held in secret due to classified information being involved.
Ivanov’s lawyers argue the case was riddled with procedural violations and lacked solid evidence. They’re planning to appeal.
But legal experts say appeals in these kinds of politically sensitive cases rarely succeed.
More Trouble Ahead: Separate Bribery Cases
Even with this sentence, Ivanov’s legal troubles are far from over.
He’s also facing two additional bribery charges.
One involves over 1.1 billion rubles’ worth of construction work allegedly done on his personal properties as a kickback.
Another newer charge added in May 2025 claims he accepted 152 million rubles in bribes.
These cases involve Alexander Fomin, head of the construction company Olimpsitistroy, who is also being charged.
If convicted in these additional cases, Ivanov could see up to 15 more years added to his sentence.
What’s Next?
With a powerful former defense official now behind bars and even more charges pending, this case marks a rare moment of public reckoning for high-level corruption in Russia.
As appeals loom and the bribery trials move forward, the story of Timur Ivanov is far from over—but his fall from grace is already complete.
