Bullied 20-year-old soldier loses spleen on duty

The regional office of military prosecutor in Vicebsk has opened a criminal case against a sergeant at the 103rd detached mobile brigade, who beat his fellow soldier to the point that the latter lost his spleen.

The injured young man is not to return to the military duty. The sergeant who beat him is likely to be sent to a disciplinary battalion. The Vicebsk-based 103rd Mobile Brigade is considered to be an elite unit.

During public statements, the brigade’s command would always stress that their soldiers are picked from the best – in physical and moral terms – recruits. The soldiers would often excel in preventing crime or saving the lives of people in trouble. But as it has turned out bullying is there even in an elite brigade.

It took a long time for the victim to testify that he had been beaten. The convict was detected only during a joint investigation by the office of military prosecutor and the military counter-intelligence office of the KGB.

Officials are still silent why the sergeant beat his fellow soldier. The office of military prosecutor said that investigation would still be continued till June 1. Besides, investigators need to wait out for the injured soldier to recover in order to assess his actual health condition.

The sergeant was in the army six months longer than his victim. He is a resident of Magiliou, while the victim comes from the Minsk region. In a private conversation, one of the soldiers said that two versions are being discussed within the brigade. According to the first version, the sergeant hit his victim with his foot when the latter was doing a physical exercise for allegedly poor push-up performance. Another version maintains that the soldier refused to give his money for cigarettes to the elder soldiers.

In 2002, the 103rd brigade faced a similar incident. Then, a soldier beaten by fellow soldiers also lost his spleen. Other bulling reports from the brigade appeared to be minor over the past five years.

The brigade command refused to comment on this incident, citing the order from the Ministry of Defense. However, they noted that disciplinary and educational measures were put in place in the brigade following the incident.

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