RUSSIA: Russian soldier sentenced to four years in jail for brutal bullying

A Russian court on Tuesday (September 26) sentenced a conscript to four years in prison for physically abusing a younger recruit so badly doctors had to amputate his legs and genitals. The injuries to Andrei Sychev highlighted the brutal bullying widespread in Russia's military and embarrassed Defence Minister Sergei Ivanov, who many believe is a potential successor to President Vladimir Putin in 2008 elections. Analysts believe the case was given unusual publicity at the time as part of a campaign by a Kremlin faction to spoil Ivanov's chances. Judge Yuri Shatitsky said junior sergeant Alexander Sivyakov forced Sychev, a fellow conscript, to crouch for hours as part of a bullying ritual as his unit in the Urals mountains went on a drinking spree to mark the New Year holiday. "As a result, serious damage was done to Sychev's health," said the judge as he read the verdict in a Chelyabinsk military court. The crouching cut the blood flow to Sychev's limbs and he developed gangrene. He was 19 years old at the time. The case was covered prominently on Kremlin-controlled state television and a public outcry ensued. However the injuries were not unusual for Russia's army, where hundreds of conscripts are killed or maimed each year away from combat zones. Sychev's family said through their lawyer they would appeal the verdict. "This sentence is too mild," said lawyer Yevgeny Belov. Prosecutors had asked the judge to sentence Sivyakov to six years in prison. He denied the charges. His lawyer said the court ruling was unfair. "First of all the court was not objective at all, they turned everything up side down, the testimonies of the main witnesses were disregarded. Everything that could prove his innocence was disregarded," lawyer Elena Ustinovich said after the ruling.

ITN Source | September 27, 2006

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