Russia arrests the director of its military-themed Patriot Park on suspicion of bribery. (His predecessor was jailed for embezzlement.)
Igor Vasilyev, director general of Patriot Park, has been detained on suspicion of accepting a bribe classified as especially large under Russian law, law enforcement sources told TASS.
Igor Vasilyev, director general of Patriot Park, has been detained on suspicion of accepting a bribery scheme involving 80 million rubles, according to law enforcement sources. Fontanka first reported on Vasilyev's detention. Two of his deputies were also detained in connection with the investigation. Vasilyev assumed his position at Patriot Park in March 2026.
His predecessor, Vyacheslav Akhmedov, faced criminal charges in 2024 and was sentenced to five years in prison in 2025 for embezzlement of 25 million rubles. The stolen funds were allegedly intended for construction at Patriot Park but were used to build a residence for former Deputy Defense Minister Pavel Popov. Prior to joining Patriot Park, Vasilyev held various roles including service in the KGB, serving as a senator for the Komi Republic, working as an auditor at the Accounts Chamber, leading the Rosreestr agency, and serving as governor of the Kirov region.
Vasilyev's tenure as governor lasted from 2016 to 2022, following the conviction of his predecessor Nikita Belykh in a bribery case.
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