Putin's 'Spartacus' silenced: General jailed for popularity
Vladimir Putin cannot stand competition. The Russian leader strives to quickly neutralise individuals whose popularity might threaten him. An example of Putin's actions is General Ivan Popov. The Kremlin-loyal military officer ended up in a labour camp because he is too well-liked by soldiers.
General Popov is a former commander of the 58th Army. He participated in the conflicts with Georgia and Ukraine. He is popular among soldiers. It is said that he is like "Spartacus." He reportedly calls military personnel "gladiators." When some Russian generals fled in the face of the Ukrainian offensive, Popov and his soldiers continued to stand on the front lines.
For his loyalty to Vladimir Putin, he was punished by the Kremlin regime. A court in Tambov found Ivan Popov guilty of stealing 2,200 tonnes of metal fittings. The sentence is five years in a labour camp.
The military officer wanted to avoid prison. He proposed to Putin that he would go fight in Ukraine, even at the rank of a private. The Kremlin did not agree to condone his offence, although in the past the biggest Russian criminals had used this option.
Media reports that pro-war soldiers and other generals began to defend Popov. Most claim that "Spartacus" never stole anything. He allegedly fell out of favour with Putin back in 2023.
He presented a report to Chief of the General Staff Valery Gerasimov, describing the disarray at the front. He believed that Russian actions were not coordinated.
After the report was revealed, Popov ceased to command the 58th Army and was transferred to Syria, which is considered a demotion. He was then called back to Russia, remaining loyal to Putin, and was placed in a labour camp.
