Russian general Yuri Kuznetsov dragged out bed at 5am & detained by cops in Putin’s latest purge after Shoigu sacked
A RUSSIAN general was dragged out of his bed at 5am to be taken into detention facing “criminal charges over state secrets” in Vladimir Putin’s latest purge.
Lt-Gen Yuri Kuznetsov, 55, was arrested by heavily armed cops in balaclavas who smashed their way into his home using crowbars.
The top MoD official was reportedly “dragged out of bed and taken away for interrogation”.
The arrest of the military chief comes a day after Vladimir Putin oversaw major changes in Russia‘s defence, including the sacking of his long-term Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu.
A close ally of Shoigu, Kuznetsov is in charge of the ministry’s main personnel department but his detention is seen as linked to his previous role guarding military state secrets.
Telegram channel VChK-OGPU reported: “Kuznetsov was detained in his own bed.
“Counterintelligence officers came for the general fully armed and acted deliberately harshly.
“At about 5am on May 13, the security forces in balaclavas and with crowbars ‘took out’ the gates and windows in [his] mansion in Istra district.”
A security source told Tass: “The investigation of the case is being conducted by the main military investigative body of Russia‘s Investigative Committee.
“The investigator has already approached the court on selecting preventive conditions for the general in the form of upholding his detention.”
A source told the channel his wife was also brought in for questioning.
“It is known that one of Yuri Kuznetsov’s relatives required medical assistance,” said the channel, alluding to shock from the raid and arrest.
“His wife is still in the Investigative Committee.”
She previously worked in the Committee on Military-Technical Cooperation with Foreign States, the Academy of the Strategic Missile Forces and other military structures.
Kuznetsov is a “suspect in a criminal case”, reported military investigators.
The Rybar military channel said: “Purges have begun in the Ministry of Defence, including in relation to people who were somehow soiled in unpleasant episodes.”
His work heading the state secret protection service was behind his detention, said the channel.
Two other key Shoigu deputy ministers have suddenly quit the ministry.
Loyal ally Sergei Tsalikov, 67, and first deputy for military-technical support Alexey Kryvoruchko, 48, former head of the Kalashnikov gun-making enterprise, have left.
There is speculation of a coming criminal case against Kryvoruchko over low-quality body armour.
Shoigu, 68, who had been a constant ally of Putin, was dismissed earlier this week.
His deputy defence minister Timur Ivanov was arrested last month on corruption charges amid suspicion he will face treason accusations.