Crisis for Vladimir Putin as top Russia commander arrested after ‘receiving large bribe’

The head of Main Communications Directorate of the Russian Armed Forces, General Shamarin.

Vladimir Putin is facing a crisis as one of his top allies was arrested for allegedly receiving a large bribe.

The head of the Main Communications Directorate of the Russian Armed Forces, General Vadim Shamarin, has appeared in court over the charge, RIA Novosti was told in court.

A law enforcement source confirmed that the general’s home was searched in connection with the allegation of fraud.

Shamarin was taken for questioning by the Main Military Investigation Department of the Investigative Committee.

The case is being considered in the 235th garrison military court in Russia.

“The court granted the investigation’s request to select a preventive measure in the form of detention for Vadim Shamarin,” the court said.

This is not the first time one of Putin’s cronies has been arrested, as previously the former commander of the 58th army of the Russia armed forces, Major General Ivan Popov, was also arrested on fraud charges.

The representative added that Popov was charged with fraud on a particularly large scale.

Shamarin marks the fourth arrest of a high-ranking defence figure since April, after Deputy Defense Minister Timur Ivanov was also placed in pre-trial detention of allegedly taking bribes.

Lieutenant General Yuri Kuznetsov, head of personnel at the defence ministry has also been arrested.

The series of arrests marks a crisis point for Vladimir Putin, as earlier this month he made major change to Russia’s defence establishment.

The despot leader removed defence minister Sergei Shoigu from his post and replaced him with former deputy prime minister Andrei Belousov.