Pro-war bloggers welcome arrest of Sergey Shoigu’s top deputy as Russia’s Defense Ministry purge continues
The dismissal of Russia’s longtime Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu in May 2024 was followed by an unprecedented purge of his deputies. Several high-ranking Russian military officials were arrested on corruption charges, while Shoigu himself was reappointed as Security Council secretary. Now, Shoigu’s closest associate, former First Deputy Defense Minister Ruslan Tsalikov, has been placed under house arrest on charges of establishing a criminal organization, money laundering, embezzlement, and bribery. The news thrilled Russia’s pro-war Telegram bloggers, who now believe that Shoigu’s political position is weaker than ever. Here’s what we know about the case against Ruslan Tsalikov.
