A former deputy director of Patriot Park testified that the former head of the institution was following orders from a former Deputy Minister of Defense in an embezzlement case.

In the Odintsovo City Court, Alexander Dovbnya, the deputy director of Patriot Park, testified as a defense witness, stating that Vyacheslav Akhmedov, the park’s former head, was acting under the instructions of ex-Deputy Minister of Defense Pavel Popov. Dovbnya asserted that Akhmedov did not seek personal enrichment and was not motivated by embezzlement.

According to the investigation, Vyacheslav Akhmedov, Pavel Popov, and Vladimir Shesterov, the former Deputy Head of the Main Directorate of Innovative Development of the Ministry of Defense, allegedly falsified documents concerning construction work at Patriot Park between 2022 and 2024. These falsified documents reportedly enabled the defendants to embezzle over 25 million rubles, causing significant financial losses to the Ministry of Defense.

Dovbnya, who worked with Akhmedov since 2021, noted that park attendance increased by 30% under Akhmedov’s leadership, and the institution received an award from the Ministry of Defense in the field of culture. He characterized Akhmedov as a fair and respected leader but also as someone who was too lenient, which allegedly led to Popov “breaking” him. Dovbnya also emphasized that Akhmedov cooperated fully with law enforcement after the investigation began.

Earlier this month, the criminal cases related to the embezzlement of budgetary funds from Patriot Park were sent to court for consideration. The prosecutor’s office alleges that Popov used funds earmarked for Patriot Park to construct a dacha for his son, which included a two-story residential building, a guest house with a bathhouse, and a two-story garage, all fully equipped, on a plot in a Moscow region garden partnership.

On July 17, the Odintsovo Garrison Court sentenced Vladimir Shesterov to 6 years in a general regime colony and a fine of 500,000 rubles after finding him guilty of large-scale fraud and official forgery. During the preliminary investigation, Akhmedov and Shesterov both admitted their guilt and cooperated with the investigation, entering into pre-trial agreements.