Investigators in Moscow have requested the arrest of Patriot Park general director Igor Vasilyev on bribery charges, Russian media reported on Tuesday.
Vasilyev faces accusations of taking bribes on an especially large scale as part of a corruption investigation involving several senior officials at the military venue.
A court in Moscow has already ordered the detention of two of his top deputies, placing first deputy general director Sergey Fedosov and deputy director for operations Alexei Pavlyukov into custody.
Investigators suspect Fedosov of large scale fraud, while Pavlyukov is accused of receiving bribes on an especially large scale. A fourth individual named in the case, Yevgeny Mariev, has been placed under house arrest.
Defence ministry cooperation and court request
The Russian Ministry of Defence stated that it is giving full cooperation to military investigative bodies handling the criminal case opened against Vasilyev.
Investigators have formally requested that the court remand Vasilyev in a SIZO pre-trial detention facility while the inquiry continues. Details of the arrest request were first reported by the Izvestia newspaper on its Telegram channel.
Background on Patriot Park
Patriot Park, officially known as the Military-Patriotic Park of Culture and Leisure of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, is a major cultural and exhibition complex operated by the Russian Ministry of Defence in Kubinka, near Moscow. Opened to highlight Russian military achievements and hardware, the expansive venue features museum exhibits, tactical demonstrations, and large scale international defense expos.
Under the Russian Criminal Code, charges of fraud and receiving bribes on an especially large scale involve severe financial crimes that carry potential sentences of up to 15 years in prison. Pre-trial detention in a SIZO, a specialized remand facility, is routinely sought by prosecutors in major official corruption cases to prevent suspects from absconding or influencing witnesses during active investigations.
Next steps in legal proceedings
Military investigators are continuing their investigation into management practices at the complex as the court prepares to rule on the detention request for Vasilyev.
