Private Andrei Sychyov, 19, had to have both of his legs and genitals amputated after allegedly being beaten and tortured during New Year's holidays in his army unit in the southern Urals city of Chelyabinsk, 1,180 miles east of Moscow.
Pavel Kuzmenko and Gennady Bilimovich partially admitted their guilt, but denied they had acted on preliminary agreement. Both men are charged with violating the army discipline code, a crime that carries a prison sentence of up to five years under Russia's Criminal Code.
A third co-defendant, Junior Sergeant Alexander Sivyakov, pleaded not guilty to a charge of abuse of office using violence. He is charged on six counts of office abuse and may face up to 10 years in prison if convicted.
A court of three judges resumed hearings on the Sychyov case Tuesday after a week-long adjournment at the request of defense lawyers, who had said they needed more time to study the 10-volume case.
The Sychyov case, the most high-profile in the latest string of hazing incidents in Russia, caused a public outcry across the nation, raising concerns over the spread of violence in the Russian army.
According to official statistics, 16 Russian servicemen died in incidents involving bullying last year alone. Experts, however, say the actual number is much higher as the official figures do not take into account hazing-related suicides.
