Two natives of Dagestan suspected of inciting interethnic hatred

The Military Investigatory Department of the ICRF for the Yekaterinburg Garrison has opened a criminal case against two servicemen from the military unit No. 61423, natives of Dagestan, suspected of inciting nationality-based hatred.

As reported by a source from the above Department, the incident occurred on August 10, but became known only on October 8. According to investigators, at night on August 11, the natives of Dagestan privates Teimur Mamedov and Elbrus Musaev woke up their colleagues and wrote on the backs of 16 of them with the shaving foam the words "Dagestan", "Azerbaijan", "Gyanza" (a village in Azerbaijan, - note of the "Caucasian Knot") and "Quba" (a district capital in Azerbaijan, - note of the "Caucasian Knot"). The Dagestanis filmed everything by their mobile phones.

The investigators believe that by their actions Mamedov and Musaev wanted to "emphasize the weakness and obedience of their fellow-servicemen to them - the natives of the Caucasus." Their actions were qualified under part 1, Article 282 (incitement of hatred or hostility, and humiliation of human dignity), and points "b" and "c", Part 2, Article 335 (violation of regulations on personal relations among servicemen), of the Russian Criminal Code.

At the same time, both the infringers and their victims continue their service at the same military unit. Their comments are not available.

Pavel Felgengauer, the military observer of the "Novaya Gazeta", believes that such incidents stem from the absence of professional sergeants in the Russian Army.

"In case of subaltern officers in place, such problems could be easily solved with any guys. When young guys of 17 stay without adequate control in the barracks, they reveal aggression - and not only Dagestanis. It should be noted that while in the past the army was overwhelmed with hazing (bullying), now soldiers are grouped by nationalities," Mr Felgengauer told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

Valentina Melnikova, a Member of the Public Council under the Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation and the Secretary of the Union of the Committees of Soldiers' Mothers of Russia, blames military bosses of the facts of aggression.

"Soldiers and officers behave in the way their unit commander wants or can. Yes, occasionally soldiers complain about humiliation by their Dagestani colleagues: they take away mobile phones, money and new uniform. I contact such guys and ask why they hadn't turned to their commanders. They answer: 'We're scared; the command is on their side'," Ms Melnikova told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.