Shoigu's former first deputy, Ruslan Tsalikov, has been detained.

A criminal case has been opened against former Russian Deputy Defense Minister Ruslan Tsalikov, a native of Vladikavkaz, for embezzlement. He faces up to 20 years in prison.

According to investigators, former First Deputy Defense Minister Ruslan Tsalikov created a criminal organization whose members embezzled budget funds and laundered the stolen goods between 2017 and 2024. He was also charged with bribery.

The criminal case was opened based on materials collected jointly with the Russian FSB, the Investigative Department, and the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs, the press service of the Russian Investigative Committee reported today on its Telegram channel.

Tsalikov has been charged with creating a criminal organization by an individual using his official position, 1 , 12 counts of embezzlement, 2 , and the legalization (laundering) of funds or other property acquired by an individual as a result of committing a crime. 3 and two counts of bribery 4 . The Basmanny Court will determine his pretrial detention.

According to Sergei Zhorin, head of the Zhorin & Partners law firm, Tsalikov could face up to 20 years in prison, RIA Novosti clarified.

The agency, citing a source in law enforcement, reports that Ruslan Tsalikov testified three times in the embezzlement case against former Deputy Defense Minister Timur Ivanov and was questioned in court by the prosecution.

Ruslan Khadzhismelovich Tsalikov was born on July 31, 1956, in Ordzhonikidze, North Ossetian ASSR (now Vladikavkaz, Republic of North Ossetia-Alania). From 1989 to 1990, he was Chief Controller-Auditor of the Control and Audit Department of the Ministry of Finance of the RSFSR for the North Ossetian ASSR. From 1990 to 1994, he headed the Ministry of Finance of North Ossetia. In 1994, he transferred to the Ministry of Emergency Situations of Russia. From 1994 to 2000, he was the head of the Main Financial and Economic Directorate, then headed the Department of Financial and Economic Activities of the Ministry. From November 26, 1994, he was a member of the Board of the Ministry of Emergency Situations of Russia. From December 2015 to June 17, 2024, he was the First Deputy Minister of Defense of the Russian Federation. His responsibilities included troop quartering, housing, property management, judicial and legal work, financial control, medical support for the Armed Forces, information policy, interaction with law enforcement agencies, and the activities of JSC Garrison, TASS reports.