This instance of hazing, not uncommon in Russia's armed forces, has received much publicity recently in Russia.
Russian Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov said Friday that seven servicemen, including officers, had been arrested.
Russia's chief military prosecutor said a criminal case had also been opened against General Alexei Sidorov, the head of the tank academy. The general has been accused of trying to cover up the brutal beating.
The Defense Ministry said the same day Sidorov would be fired.
Speaking at a news conference in Chelyabinsk, 1,800 miles east of Moscow, Alexander Savenkov said investigators had had a conversation with the Commander of Land Forces, Alexei Maslov, who admitted that the hazing case had only been reported 25 days after it occurred.
The Russian Defense Ministry said Friday that it would grant monetary compensation to Sychev and his family. The military has already allocated 70,000 rubles ($2,500) for living accommodations for the soldier's mother and three sisters in Chelyabinsk as Sychev undergoes treatment.
More hazing investigations have been opened in the wake of the Chelyabinsk attack. A senior military official said four cases had been reported in the last 24 hours.
"We have received information about all incidents, including hazing, every day," Colonel
General Nikolai Reznik said. "Four cases have been registered in the last 24 hours."
The most serious incident occurred within the Railway Troops, where a serviceman took a knife from a fellow soldier and seriously wounded him.
Reznik said all cases of hazing would be thoroughly investigated, and the perpetrators would be brought to justice.
He also claimed that the overall number of incidents in the Russian military had declined in 2005. There were 20 fewer non-combat deaths year-on-year, and the number of thefts of ammunition and explosives declined as well, he said.
Military prosecutors are also stepping up efforts to curb corruption in military ranks.
The Moscow Military Prosecutor's Office said Friday it would launch a probe into corruption among district military officials after it had disclosed several bribery cases.
