Ex-Russian deputy defence minister detained in criminal case

Russia's Former First Deputy Minister of Defence, Ruslan Tsalikov, has been detained as part of a criminal investigation into the creation of a criminal organisation, the official representative of the Russian Investigative Committee, Svetlana Petrenko, said.

“Former First Deputy Minister of Defence Ruslan Tsalikov has been detained. The question of choosing a preventive measure for him is being decided,” Russian media quotes Petrenko as saying.

Tsalikov has been charged with creating a criminal organisation, embezzlement, and money laundering, the Investigative Committee of Russia reported via the Max messenger.

“Tsalikov has been charged under Part 3 of Article 210 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation (creating a criminal organization using his official position), 12 episodes of crimes under Part 4 of Article 160 of the Criminal Code (embezzlement), Part 4 of Article 174.1 (legalization [laundering] of funds or other property obtained through criminal activity), and 2 episodes of crimes under Part 6 of Article 290 (bribery),” the statement said.

By Khagan Isayev