Posted on 05/23/2024 12:28:13 PM PDT by Cronos
Russian patriotic bloggers expressed anger on Wednesday over the arrest of the former commander of Russia's 58th army, who was detained for fraud, and cast him as a talented general who had the courage to speak the truth to incompetent superiors.
Russia's state news agency TASS reported on Tuesday that Major General Ivan Popov had been arrested on suspicion of "large-scale fraud".
It was not possible to contact Popov directly, who Russian media said stood accused of stealing 100 million roubles ($1.1 million) of metal.
Following a June 2023 mutiny by Wagner mercenaries against Russia's defence establishment, Popov said he had been dismissed after telling the top brass about the dire situation at the front in Ukraine.
Popov, whose military call sign was "Spartacus" and who was popular with the troops, said at the time that Russian soldiers had been stabbed in the back because of the failings of their senior commanders.
"I know one thing: Ivan was at the head of the forces that repelled the enemy's counteroffensive," Alexander Sladkov, a war correspondent for Russian state television, said on Telegram.
"Stupid people are forgiven for lies and losses so others, I think, can be forgiven for the ruthless truth," he said. "General Ivan Popov is not a thief. He is a soldier. However... we also forgive thieves."
The support for Popov was widespread among pro-Russian military bloggers, who dismissed the allegations against him and cast Popov as a patriot who was being punished for speaking truth to power
(Excerpt) Read more at reuters.com ...
I think you are.
But Trump will take care of Biden and Putin.
Then you’ll cry Ruskie.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.