Bribery & corruptionMisused public funds
Ex-deputy defense minister Pavel Popov jailed 19 years over Patriot Park fraud; former minister Shoigu has not been charged
Confidence: Corroborated · 2 sourcesRussia · Oct 6, 2026
Subject of this story
Pavel Popov, Former Deputy Defense Minister of Russia
Sergei Shoigu, Secretary of the Security Council of Russia (former Defense Minister)
Also named
Oversight
Moscow 235th Garrison Military Court
What happened
On 10 April 2026 Moscow's 235th Garrison Military Court sentenced former Deputy Defense Minister Pavel Popov to 19 years for fraud, bribery and abuse of power tied to the Patriot Park military theme park, including diverting funds to build a private residence. The Moscow Times and RFE/RL report that Sergei Shoigu, under whom Popov served and who dismissed him in June 2024, has not faced criminal prosecution and is now secretary of the Security Council. Accomplices were sentenced in 2025 after pleading guilty.
By the numbers (1)
● confirmed by a primary document · ○ reported
Figures
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A Moscow military court sentenced former deputy defense minister Pavel Popov to 19 years in prison on 10 April 2026 in the Patriot Park fraud case.
1 source
- themoscowtimes.com
Sentenced 19 years on 10 April 2026
Sources (2)
themoscowtimes.comSentenced 19 years on 10 April 2026; Shoigu has avoided criminal prosecution.
rferl.orgPopov sentenced to 19 years; Kremlin watchers say Shoigu unlikely to face criminal liability.
Response
Pavel Popov
Not yet contacted
Not yet contacted for this story.
Sergei Shoigu
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Not yet contacted for this story.
What happened next (0)
No outcome recorded yet.