MOSCOW, February 6 (RIA Novosti) - More than 2,600 servicemen were convicted of hazing in Russia in 2005, the chief military prosecutor said Monday.
"Unfortunately, no tangible breakthrough was made with regard to crime in the army, where hazing accounts for 25% of crimes. Altogether, 2,609 servicemen were convicted of crimes of this kind," Alexander Savenkov said during hearings in the Federation Council, parliament's upper house.
He said about 6,000 people were victims of hazing last year.
According to Savenkov, 1,803 people alone were sentenced for army beatings and that the number of crimes committed by officers had doubled.
The comments come in the wake of a number of recent hazing cases in the Russian army, including one incident that left a soldier severely disabled after his legs had to be amputated.
Savenkov also said a considerable number of fraud cases involving army-issue apartments were filed.
"More than 5,000 apartments were returned to servicemen and 100 people, including two generals, were convicted for apartment fraud cases," the prosecutor said.
Savenkov said 139,000 crimes had been registered in the army in 2005 and that 15,000 servicemen, including 100 commanders and five generals, had been convicted.
The prosecutor said more than 10,000 servicemen were detained on deserting charges last year, fewer than the previous year, he said.
