Head of Russian Military’s Patriot Park Arrested in Bribery Probe

Oct. 6, 2026 The Main Temple of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation in the Patriot Central Park. Sergei Vedyashkin / Moskva News Agency Law enforcement authorities have detained the head of Russia’s military theme park, Patriot Park, on bribery charges, media outlets reported and the Defense Ministry confirmed on Monday evening. Investigators have accused Patriot Park general director Igor Vasilyev of accepting 80 million rubles ($931,000) in bribes, according to the Fontanka news website. A Moscow court is expected to rule to place Vasilyev in pre-trial detention later on Tuesday. Russia’s Defense Ministry told state media it was fully assisting military investigators. Vasilyev, who served as governor of the Kirov region from 2016 to 2022, was appointed as general director of Patriot Park in March this year. His arrest follows a recent series of detentions targeting executives and military supervisors connected to Patriot Park. Two of Vasilyev’s deputies were arrested last Friday on an alleged fake contract scheme totaling 100 million rubles ($1.1 million). On Wednesday, a military court reportedly accused Major General Sergei Nikitushkin, who heads a Defense Ministry department that oversees Patriot Park, of accepting bribes. Vasilyev’s predecessor, Vyacheslav Akhmedov, was sentenced to five years in prison last year for fraud related to construction at the theme park. Akhmedov’s and Vasilyev’s deputy, Vitaly Melimuk, was arrested for allegedly accepting a bribe from a private contractor earlier in April. The broader purge began in April 2024 with the high-profile arrest of Deputy Defense Minister Timur Ivanov. Since then, investigators have targeted several deputy ministers and multiple generals on charges of bribery, embezzlement and forming criminal organizations. Vasilyev is identified as at least the 12th defendant in cases surrounding Patriot Park, a pet project of the country’s military establishment designed to showcase Russian hardware and boost national pride. Read more about: Defense Ministry , Crime Sign up for our free weekly newsletter Our weekly newsletter contains a hand-picked selection of news, features, analysis and more from The Moscow Times. You will receive it in your mailbox every Friday. Never miss the latest news from Russia. Preview Subscribers agree to the Privacy Policy We sent a confirmation to your email. Please confirm your subscription. A Message from The Moscow Times: Dear readers, We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent." These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia. We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help. Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact. By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us. Once Monthly Annual Continue Not ready to support today? Remind me later. × Remind me next month Remind me Thank you! Your reminder is set. We will send you one reminder email a month from now. For details on the personal data we collect and how it is used, please see our Privacy Policy. Read more Russian Military Vows Retaliation After Ukraine Launches New ATACMS Strikes on Kursk Region Russia’s Defense Ministry said the two separate strikes damaged military equipment and injured personnel. 1 Min read Russia Charges 2 More Military Officers With Bribery The head of a military representative's office and his subordinate allegedly received over $120,000 from two companies. 1 Min read Cleaning Supplies Company CEO Accused of Defrauding Russian Military Investigators accused Lenbytkhim CEO Denis Mikhailov of misappropriating over $218,600 from a contract with the military’s clothing and food supplier... 1 Min read Gunman Kills 2 Kindergarteners in Central Russia The gunman opened fire inside a kindergarten in Russia’s Ulyanovsk region.