VORONEZH, April 27 (RIA Novosti) - Military prosecutors in the central Russian city of Voronezh said Thursday they had launched criminal proceedings into a new case of hazing that left a private with a ruptured spleen.
"Private Dmitry Kirin of Voronezh, who has served for almost two years, beat Private Alexander Ivanov, of Moscow," a prosecutor said. "He is in hospital after having his spleen removed, and now his life is out of danger."
Prosecutors said Kirin had been detained and could face up to five years in prison.
Hazing incidents have become a high-profile issue in the Armed Forces recently. Private Andrei Sychev had to have both of his legs and genitals amputated after allegedly being beaten and tortured during the New Year's Eve holidays in the Ural city of Chelyabinsk 1,180 miles east of Moscow. The case caused an outcry across the country.
