CHELYABINSK, June 27 (RIA Novosti) - A Urals military court adjourned Monday the trial of three soldiers accused of carrying out one of the most brutal cases of hazing in the Russian army until July 4.
Private Andrei Sychev, 19, was allegedly attacked and tortured by fellow soldiers in army barracks in the Urals city of Chelyabinsk, 1,180 miles east of Moscow, during the New Year's holidays. Doctors had to amputate his legs and genitals following the incident.
There are three suspects in the case, Sergeant Alexander Sivyakov and Privates Pavel Kuzmenko and Gennady Bilimovich, also members of the logistics support battalion in which Sychev served.
Lawyers acting in their interests said they needed more time to study the 10-volume case.
Sivyakov could face three to 10 years in prison if convicted of abuse of office and the use of violence or threatening violence, the Chelyabinsk Military Prosecutor's Office said earlier, adding that he had purportedly committed six offences of this kind.
Kuzmenko and Bilimovich are accused of violating the army discipline code and face up to five years in prison.
The suspects reportedly denied their guilt during the investigation and even claimed the incident had not taken place at all.
The court had declined a request made by their lawyers to hold the trial in Moscow and had refused to release the defendants from custody during the investigation.
Sychev is currently undergoing treatment in a Defense Ministry hospital in Moscow.
The Sychev case triggered a broad public and media debate across the country, raising concerns over the spread of violence in the army.
Defense Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Sergei Ivanov said June 14 that he wanted an open trial of the case.
"I expect an open, including for the media, objective court trial of the Sychev case to prevent all kinds of rumor. Only a court of law can make a decision [on the matter]," Ivanov said.
