Russian Defense Minister implicated in corruption scandal

Vladimir Putin fired Defense Minister Anatoly Serdyukov, who is suspected of corruption. Sergei Shoigu, a former Minister of Emergency Situations and a staunch ally of Putin, was appointed to this position. The Russian Investigative Committee is investigating the sale of Defense Ministry assets at less than market value.

Путин заявил сегодня, что он снял г-на Сердюкова, чтобы создать «условия для объективного расследования».
В прошлом месяце, следователи провели обыски в офисах контролируемого государством военного подрядчика «Оборонсервис» и начали расследование по факту причинения государству убытков, почти на три миллиарда рублей. «Оборонсервис» отвечает за тыловое обеспечение армии, закупку вооружения и строительство военных объектов.

Previously, Mr. Serdyukov was involved in the furniture business, was the head of the tax service, and in 2007 was appointed Minister of Defense.
For six years, Serdyukov tried to reform the Armed Forces by reducing the army and selling off civilian and military facilities.
But according to unconfirmed reports, he had an argument with his father-in-law, former Deputy Prime Minister Viktor Zubkov, for which he paid the price. Now it is likely that he will be a defendant in a fraud case.