Astrakhan resident succeeds in seeking cancellation of Grozny court’s verdict in case on escaping from military unit

A case against Samat Suleimanov, a mobilized resident of Astrakhan, sentenced for leaving his military unit without permission, has been returned for reconsideration. The judge in Grozny did not take into account that Samat Suleimanov was hospitalised after being beaten by his colleagues, the court of appeal indicated.

The “Caucasian Knot” has reported that the tightening of the Russian legislation after the announcement of mobilization resulted in more severe sentences for absence from a military unit or desertion, human rights defenders noted.

The court sentenced Samat Suleimanov to five years of imprisonment in a penal colony, finding the man guilty of leaving his military unit without permission: the court qualified in such way Samat Suleimanov’s departure for medical treatment after his colleagues broke his jaw, the “Kavkaz.Realii”* reports.

According to the file of Samat Suleimanov’s case on the official website of the Southern District Military Court, the defendant was convicted under Part 5 of Article 337 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation (unsanctioned abandonment of a military unit or place of service for a period of more than 10 days, but not more than a month), providing for up to three years of imprisonment.

In his complaint, Samat Suleimanov indicated that he was beaten by his colleagues and went home, and then he addressed a hospital in Astrakhan, to where he was hospitalised and where he received medical treatment. After the discharge from the hospital, Samat Suleimanov went home to help his family, while continuing receiving medical treatment at the same hospital.

*Included by the Russian Ministry of Justice (MoJ) into the register of foreign agents.