Russian security forces have detained Ruslan Tsalikov, former deputy minister of Defense, in a corruption case that threatens the image of Vladimir Putin’s army. Tsalikov had been nicknamed the “general of the public relations service” of Sergei Shoigu, when he was leading the Ministry of Defense.
According to the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation, a criminal case has been opened against Tsalikov for the establishment of a criminal organization, legalization of stolen goods, and bribery. He is accused of 12 episodes of embezzlement and money laundering, as well as two episodes of bribery. The investigation shows that the offenses were committed between 2017 and 2024, a period when Tsalikov was active in the Ministry of Defense, reports Nexta.
Svetlana Petrenko, a representative of the Investigative Committee, specified that the case was compiled based on materials collected by the FSB, the investigative department, and the GUEBiPK of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. Soon, the court will decide on the preventive measure for the accused.
Career close to Shoigu
Since 1994, Tsalikov worked under Shoigu’s leadership within the Ministry of Emergency Situations, holding positions from department head to deputy minister. In 2012, he became the deputy governor of the Moscow region, following Shoigu’s appointment as the head of the region. Immediately after Shoigu took over the Ministry of Defense in the same year, Tsalikov transferred as deputy and coordinated the information and financial control departments. From 2015 to 2024, he held the position of deputy minister.
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