Shocking details of the staggering wealth of Russia’s shamed Deputy Defence Minister Timur Ivanov has emerged as prosecutors prepare for his corruption trial.
Accused Ivanov, 48, was seized on 23rd April, reportedly on the orders of President Vladimir Putin, following an investigation into his lavish lifestyle.
Now it has emerged that Ivanov and his glamorous wife Svetlana lived a lifestyle even oligarchs would have found hard to keep up with.
Russian media has reported on a list of properties and luxury cars bought by Ivanov while he was supposed to be on RUB 14.2 million (GBP 121,000) a year Kremlin pay packet.
At the pinnacle of his fleet of luxury limos is a super rare Soviet limo, the ZIS 110, worth up to RUB 18 million (GBP 154,000).
Only 2,089 of the cars were made, and most were given out to allies and heads of state like China’s Chairman Mao.
The car, made in the 1940s and 1950s, was Joseph Stalin’s favourite and only a handful remain in Russia.
Other vehicles in his fleet include a Bentley Continental, an Aston Martin sports car, a matched pair of Rolls-Royce Corniche convertibles and a Hummer 4WD, according to Russian media.
He also reportedly splurged on a giant Chevrolet Suburban SUV, a Mercedes, a Ford Transit, and a number of Triumph and Harley-Davidson motorcycles.
Russian media said that five of the vehicles are in Svetlana’s name. Over two of the years under investigation, her income reportedly soared to GBP 1.5 million (RUB 183 million).
Ivanov also has the run of two massive Moscow apartments and a huge private estate in the capital’s suburbs.
A third luxury apartment in Mexico is reportedly registered in his son’s name.
According to Russian state media agency TASS, Ivanov is being held in pre-trial detention until at least 23rd June after allegedly accepting a bribe of RUB 1 million (GBP 8,555).
He is said to have accepted cash and favours for granting favourable business contracts.
Sergei Borodin, a friend of Ivanov, and businessman Alexander Fomin, accused of providing a bribe, are also facing corruption charges.
All three face up to 15 years behind bars if found guilty.
Moscow media reports that he is currently imprisoned at the grim Lefortovo Detention Centre.
