Bangladesh, Aug. 21 -- Russias ongoing battle against high-level corruption has taken a dramatic turn with two major cases involving a former senior judge and a top defense official. Together, they shed light on the entrenched nature of graft within Russian institutions, the staggering sums involved, and the Kremlins attempt to project an image of accountability amid public discontent over elite corruption.

The spotlight has fallen on Alexander Chernov, the former chairman of the Krasnodar Regional Court, who spent more than 25 years on the bench. Prosecutors allege that during his lengthy judicial career, Chernov quietly built an empire of wealth that far outstripped his official salary.

Authorities recently announced the seizure of as...