UPDATE 2 - Moscow court orders Russian deputy defense minister to be remanded for alleged bribery

ADDS MORE INFORMATION ON IVANOV'S REMOVAL FROM POST

By Elena Teslova

MOSCOW (AA) - A court in Moscow ordered Wednesday that Russian Deputy Defense Minister Timur Ivanov be remanded until June 23 while he is being investigated on charges of bribery.

During a hearing at Moscow's Basmanny Court, it was disclosed that Ivanov faces allegations of grand bribery linked to contract and subcontract activities undertaken for the Defense Ministry.

Investigators assert that the bribe surpassed 1 million rubles ($10,700), categorizing it as "particularly significant" under Russian law and fraught with a potential prison sentence of up to 15 years.

The court also revealed the detention and subsequent arrest of another suspect, Sergey Borodin, a former colonel who is considered to be Ivanov's accomplice. He was similarly remanded into custody.

Ivanov and Borodin allegedly "entered into a criminal conspiracy with third parties" to receive bribes "in the form of property services for personal needs" during work performed for the Defense Ministry.

Ivanov's lawyer Denis Baluyev said his client was detained at his workplace and pleaded not guilty, noting that "money does not appear at all as the subject of a bribe."

Separately, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that President Vladimir Putin had been briefed on the situation, with Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu being forewarned about the impending detentions.

He declined to comment on reports alleging that Ivanov is also under suspicion of high treason, advising to await official statements regarding the matter.

The Russian state news agency TASS reported later in the day that Ivanov has been removed from his post by Shoigu's order, citing a Defense Ministry source.

Before being appointed deputy defense minister in May 2016, Ivanov worked in management positions in governmental bodies and state companies.

*Burc Eruygur contributed to this story from Istanbul