The Russian army is notorious for brutal hazing, which has driven some young men drafted into the forces to take their own lives. Last week a conscript jumped out of a ninth-floor window of the General Staff building in central Moscow after leaving a suicide note blaming constant bullying for his decision.
"Suicides in the army fell 10% since the beginning of the year," Sergei Fridinsky said, though his office refused to reveal the precise figure. "Hazing-related deaths fell by 28%."
Fridinsky told a meeting with the Military Prosecutor's Office's senior staff that the crime-prevention system in the army was not effective as the number of crimes among officers remained high and was continuing to increase.
He said about 1,500 officers and 300 warrant officers had been given suspended sentences this year but remained on active duty.
