General Ivan Popov, the former commander of Russia's 58th Army, is facing the prospect of returning to pre-trial detention after military prosecutors petitioned the court to revoke his current house arrest. The appeal is due to alleged violations of the conditions under which Popov was confined.
According to TASS, the military prosecutor's office presented their case to the Tambov garrison military court, asserting, "There have been breaches of the conditions of house arrest." This development may see the court reconsidering Popov's status as early as February 27.
One of the significant incidents cited by law enforcement occurred recently when officers from the State Traffic Inspectorate (GAI) stopped Popov's vehicle on his way to attend court. Reports indicate he refused to undergo medical testing, which was scheduled for routine checks on sobriety. Popov’s attorney, Sergey Buynovskiy, stated the refusal originated from his client's concern about being late for the hearing. Buynovskiy firmly claims, "Popov was sober at the time he was stopped and has acted within the legal boundaries of his house arrest."
The former general was initially arrested back in May 2024 and charged with fraud and abuse of office after accusations surfaced involving the theft of over 1,700 tons of metal products intended for fortifications valued at 130 million rubles. His case has garnered attention amid testimonies from his military peers, with former officers and subordinates from the 58th Army vocally supporting him. They testified at the military court proceedings, directly refuting allegations of wrongdoing linked to fraudulent activities.
Previously, the prosecution aimed to place him under stricter remand, but he was instead placed on house arrest. Court documents, now under dispute, allegedly contained forged signatures attributed to Popov, leading his defense team to contend the entire case has been fabricated. His legal counsel emphasized the lack of recognition from the authorities of the Zaporizhzhia region as victims, as they too confirm Popov's actions didn’t harm their interests.
At the last hearing, around 20 military unit commanders had taken the stand to bolster Popov's credibility, confirming the need for the metal structures he is accused of stealing for legitimate defensive applications at the front. This collective defense could bolster Popov's attempts to have the charges dismissed as being spurious.
The upcoming court session will be pivotal. It may either reaffirm Popov's house arrest or reposition him back within the confines of pre-trial detention, potentially altering the course of the allegations against him. The narrative surrounding General Popov, once heroic, now teeters precariously on the edge of judicial scrutiny and public opinion as each development continues to evolve.