Private Alexandr Sivyakov in court
Moscow - today a court ruled in the mutilation case of Private Andrei Sychev, who was beaten and sexually abused by his comrades at the Chelyabinsk Tank Academy on December 31, 2005. As a result of his injuries, Andrei Syvhev had both his legs and genitals amputated earlier this year.
The prosecution of this case was very political and highly publicized. Russian army officials were caught trying to cover up for the guilty NCOs and division officers at the base where Pvt. Sychev was abused. Several officers misrepresented the entire story, claiming that the private was a poor soldier and that they were not aware of any abuse taking place. President Putin was personally outraged by the case and asked the court to find and prosecute the guilty parties. The case has created a major push in the Duma to speed up desperately needed reforms in the Russian army.
Private Alexandr Sivyakov was convicted of torturing Private Sychev, and was sentenced to four years in prison. Both prosecutors and the defense argue that this sentence was too lenient for the crime of maiming a young man for life. The victim’s family is demanding harsher punishment and calling for Pvt. Sychev’s commanding officers to be brought to justice as well. The defense argues that Pvt. Sivyakov was the scapegoat for the negligence of the officers, and could not be held entirely responsible for the actions of his comrades who mutilated Pvt. Sychev.
Three more people may face prosecution in this case. The first is a senior lieutenant Bogomolov, who was the ranking officer on duty at Chelyabinsk Tank Academy barracks on New Year’s Eve, and claims to have slept through the entire night of torture. Another senior supervisor (a Major, name not released) may be charged with negligence for ignoring Pvt. Sychev’s critical condition on January 4th, four days after the soldier was tortured, when it was too late to save his lower body and almost too late to save the young soldier’s life. The last person who faces charges is Sergeant Yevgeni Ulyanov, who witnessed the brutality, but did nothing to stop it.
A more senior commander who could face charges is General Viktor Sidorov, Director of the Chelyabinsk Tank Academy, where the torture took place. General Sidorov, however, has avoided criminal charges thus far - the case against him “got stuck” in the office of the military prosecutors, according to officials. Now, the General’s prosecution may be a question of time with the political pressure from human rights organizations and Russian citizens. If pushed hard enough, it is hard to imagine how the General would be able to avoid facing charges, but again, Russian people usually prefer to mind their own business and seldom participate in civil society - so long as things are fine in their homes.
Both sides in this first prosecution from the Sychev case will probably appeal the sentence, and more prosecutions of perpetrators of dedovshina are likely to follow.
Photos of the trial, Andrei Sychev in hospital and the Chelyabinsk Tank Academy by Reuters and ITAR-TASS:
Comments
BBC news last night
from australia
great news ... the sargent re the Andrei Sychev case got 4 years jail
this is very good news...
I have been keeping my eye on the court case to see how things were going
4 years is not a lot .... they would get a graded 15 to 20 or so out here
but I am pleased someone was charged, because this will help for the future
most jails in the world are pretty bad.... but some countries are becoming more educational
when I say this I mean STUDY
not abuse educational
the 2 women and 2 men who murdered my brother in moscow, got 4 - 8 years if I remember rightly
jail reform is something I think should be done in all countries....
most of them just teach more abuse, or are inhumane too,
anyway, I am pleased that Andrei Sychev can be proud of himself, how on earth he survived this long, is a feat in itself
and I keep him and his family in my spiritual thoughts
much regards to all JHH
Posted by: JHH | September 26, 2006 6:35 PM
I have a very difficult time believing that Senior Lieutenant Bogomolov was asleep on New Year's Eve. Certainly a holiday such as that would be full of drunken revelry throughout the night and into the morning.
I am disgusted by the sentence of four years. The sadistic perpetrator,
Private Alexandr Sivyakov looks smug, and not the least bit remorseful.
As for the others, including General Viktor Sidorov, it looks like bribes are flowing and they will avoid their due justice as well.
I am very sad for Private Andrei Sychev, and his family. A promising young life was destroyed, and now the entire family will suffer for the rest of his existence.
My only hope is that this story will finally galvanize President Putin to take a serious critical look at his armies, and purge the corruption and brutality. The eyes of the International Humanitarian community are upon him.
Now is the time to make change.
Posted by: Tanya | September 26, 2006 8:54 PM
hi all,
when searching Andrei Sychev, I found that Andrei was/is not the only person..to be assaulted in this fashion...
I have folders in my art file, with some of their names....
it seems its hundreds a year, or more
thats a lot of young 18 year old kids
and a lot of voters too ?
I think it is wonderful that they have put it to the justice procedure....
which is the only honest way to go
so although I dont know russian politics very well like many here
I think in this case the leaders of russia have done the right thing
this will follow through, one always has to start
with one step......
so I personally congratulate the leaders myself
JHH australia
Posted by: JHH | September 29, 2006 8:23 PM
I read that the Russian Savings bank had set up a fund for Andrei. Does anyone know how I could go about contributing to this fund? Thanks
Posted by: tom | February 13, 2007 1:07 PM
I understand there is a procedure to be followed in such cases yet i can not help but ask myself why the Russians have still not lynched the accused... are there no rich Russians who are appalled by this behavior and would like to see a respectful army once again? Why don't they use their money for something good for once and have these torturers executed after they have been tortured themselves in the same manner? Come on Russia. Care for once what happens outside your own damn houses!!
Posted by: unforgiving | February 14, 2007 3:47 AM
What a misery is the Russian Army.
A 19 years soldier mutilated, his life destroyed.
Who and what do Russians love then ? Sadists ?
Posted by: Ovidiu | February 15, 2007 11:39 PM
I am Irish...Russian leaders shame on you to allow this happen.Now that the world know's ...do something about it .Would you like it to happen to your son's ?....If it did there would be swift action taken.
Posted by: mary | February 16, 2007 2:14 AM
I am impressed by this terrible news.
This is the worst atrocity that I never read committed against a soldier for his own companions, is a mostruocidad I wait for a reform without lacking and deep for the Russian army and many years of prison and dismissal of every person in charge included to the officials of the Tank Academy of Chelyabinsk, I wait for Andrei a prompt recovery, and that has the best medical assistance and the prótesis that allow him a life after this atrocity.
Jaime Chile Sudamerica.
Posted by: Jaime Lizama | February 20, 2007 6:21 AM
This is a tragic event for Andrei and his family and a sad commentary on the state of the Russian Army. The disregard for human life that this action demonstrates is overwhelming. It is my hope that there are some people with a sense of righteousness that will come to the rescue of this young man and his family and will have such indignation at what has taken place that a powerful movement for rescue and reform will take place quickly. There are so many places of severe inhumane action taking place in the world that it is hard to focus on the individuals who are intimately affected by such stupidity and acts of hate. Where is the Orthodox Church and its ministry of hope and justice when such things as this take place? Where is their offering of sanctury and the message of love and good will for all people? I too would like to know how a person could contribute to a specific fund for Andrei and his health care. I also think that there must be persons of wealth in Russia who have conscience enough to step forward to care for the young men in these circumstances who will need physical and mental health care. I also hope that Mr. Putin will find it in his "father-heart" to offer his influence to change things for these young men, both those who victimize and those who are victims. Keep this matter in front of the eyes of the world so that no more young men in Russian have to suffer.
Posted by: Roger Franzen | February 21, 2007 8:03 AM