Head of Russian Military’s Patriot Park Arrested in Bribery Probe

Law enforcement authorities have detained the head of Russia’s military theme park, Patriot Park, on bribery charges, media outlets reported and the Defense Ministry confirmed on Monday evening. Investigators have accused Patriot Park general director Igor Vasilyev of accepting 80 million rubles ($931,000) in bribes, according to the Fontanka news website. A Moscow court is expected to rule to place Vasilyev in pre-trial detention later on Tuesday. Russia’s Defense Ministry told state media it was fully assisting military investigators. Vasilyev, who served as governor of the Kirov region from 2016 to 2022, was appointed as general director of Patriot Park in March this year. His arrest follows a recent series of detentions targeting executives and military supervisors connected to Patriot Park. Two of Vasilyev’s deputies were arrested last Friday on an alleged fake contract scheme totaling 100 million rubles ($1.1 million). On Wednesday, a military court reportedly accused Major General Sergei Nikitushkin, who heads a Defense Ministry department that oversees Patriot Park, of accepting bribes. Vasilyev’s predecessor, Vyacheslav Akhmedov, was sentenced to five years in prison last year for fraud related to construction at the theme park. Akhmedov’s and Vasilyev’s deputy, Vitaly Melimuk, was arrested for allegedly accepting a bribe from a private contractor earlier in April. The broader purge began in April 2024 with the high-profile arrest of Deputy Defense Minister Timur Ivanov. Since then, investigators have targeted several deputy ministers and multiple generals on charges of bribery, embezzlement and forming criminal organizations. Vasilyev is identified as at least the 12th defendant in cases surrounding Patriot Park, a pet project of the country’s military establishment designed to showcase Russian hardware and boost national pride. A Message from The Moscow Times: Dear readers, We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent." These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia. We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help . Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $ 2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact. By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us. Once Monthly Annual Continue Not ready to support today? Remind me later .