Hazing in the army rose more than 16 percent last year, with ethnic tensions contributing increasingly, the chief military prosecutor said Friday.
Sergei Fridinsky did not provide exact statistics but said "thousands" faced abuse, "dozens" were crippled, and some were murdered. More than 50 officers were imprisoned over hazing incidents.
The trend persisted this year, with 500 hazing cases opened in the first two months of this year, Fridinsky said in a statement carried by his agency's web site. Two conscripts were killed; 20 were injured.
The increase in the overall number of conscripts played a part, he said. The military is currently drafting twice the number of young men it had been drafting before 2008, when the service term was halved from two years to one.
But "obviously lacking work of commanders" is also to blame, he said at a meeting with military top brass and rights groups in Moscow.
Some officers condone "servicemen of different ethnic groups … attempting to impose their own rules in military communities," Fridinsky said without elaborating. The claim echoed a popular belief that conscripts from ethnic republics, especially in the North Caucasus, antagonize fellow draftees of different origins.
The General Staff was said last fall to be considering the idea of creating special "monoethnic" regiments comprised solely of North Caucasus natives, but no follow-up was reported.
Hazing should be overcome by educational courses for officers, who will be taught to handle subordinates better, as well as better investigation work, Fridinsky said.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.
