Russian deputy defense minister detained on bribery charges

MOSCOW, April 23 (Xinhua) -- Russian Deputy Defense Minister Timur Ivanov has been detained on suspected bribery charges, the Russian Investigative Committee said on Tuesday.

"Deputy Minister of Defence of the Russian Federation Timur Vadimovich Ivanov has been detained on suspicion of committing a crime under part 6 of article 290 of the Criminal Code (taking a bribe)," the committee said on Telegram.

It added that necessary investigative actions are being carried out, without offering further details on the case.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Tuesday that Russian President Vladimir Putin has been informed about the detention of Ivanov.

Ivanov was appointed deputy defense minister in May 2016. In the position, he was in charge of organizing property management, troop billeting, housing, and medical support for the armed forces, as well as overseeing procurement under the state defense order, according to TASS news agency.