An investigator's visit left the father of an injured conscript from Dagestan disappointed.

A military investigator was uninterested in a conscript from Dagestan's claims that he was beaten at his unit. A decision on whether to open a criminal case has not yet been made. The victim, Magomedbek, is paralyzed on half his body, according to his father. Lawyers have recommended that his family be as proactive as possible to secure an investigation into the incident.

As reported by "Caucasian Knot," a 19-year-old conscript from Dagestan with a severe head injury is being treated at the N.N. Burdenko National Medical Research Center of Neurosurgery in Moscow. The Dagestan Ministry of Nationalities is investigating the circumstances of his injury and is in contact with the soldier's parents, the ministry stated. Injured Magomedbek Khizbulaev himself stated in the hospital that he had been beaten, and his commanders' version of a fall from a tower doesn't match the nature of his injuries. His family received information about the incident from a fellow soldier; the military unit didn't notify the family, his father said. The father of a conscript appealed to deputies from Dagestan asking them to look into the incident and prevent the matter from being hushed up.

The father of the injured conscript from Dagestan, Magomednur Khizbulaev, reported that an investigator finally interviewed his son the other day, but there are no signs of any other action from the investigators.

 "A military investigator came from Voronezh, and my son also told him that he was beaten, but he doesn't remember who did it. But the investigator seemed to overlook it. He didn't even question the doctors. He may have hinted at a safety violation. I'll probably call my brother here so I can go and report it myself. Or go on air somewhere. I think they're just trying to let it slide. We're waiting for a response. So far, there's been no decision—either to open a criminal case or to refuse to open one. I just got a call from Dagestan. They've submitted a complaint to the prosecutor's office. And they're also waiting for a response," he said. He.

He started talking. But one side of his body isn't working. He can feel, but it's not working.

According to the soldier's father, Magomedbek's health has improved slightly.

"My son was simply transferred to another branch of Burdenko Hospital in Moscow. He started talking. But one side of his body isn't working. He can feel, but it's not working. His memory hasn't returned yet. The doctors are working to get him back on his feet. But he still can't use either his arm or his leg. He's in excruciating pain. It's been going on for more than one or two days. "The boy has already been assigned a Category D status; he'll be discharged immediately after completing treatment," Khizbulaev noted.

He noted that his son will require additional surgery.

"There will definitely be an additional surgery. Plates will need to be placed on his head to prevent pitting. In the meantime, they're giving him IVs and massage. But he's had headaches again for three days now, and his temperature is rising. His blood pressure keeps dropping and rising. I asked the doctor about his memory. He said, 'Don't stress him out.' His memory will return, but not right away. Maybe he'll remember in a month," Khizbulaev explained.

He also noted that his son initially spent 20 days in a coma.

"When he was admitted, he was in a coma for 20 days. He was taken to the Voronezh City Hospital. He spent six days there, and then on December 12th, he was taken to the intensive care unit at Burdenko Central Hospital. We only found out about it through a roundabout route on January 3rd. When I arrived here and met the doctors, they told me bluntly: either he'll die from these injuries or he'll remain a vegetable for life. The doctor said he had bruises and bruises all over his body. I said, "Can you confirm that?" He said, "No, I won't say anything about that." When I saw my son in the intensive care unit, it was impossible to even look at him. You could see all his ribs, all his bones, without an X-ray. He's lost almost 40 kilograms in a month. But praise be to Allah, he's still recovering," Khizbulaev said.

Now they have new theories: that he either fell from a Kamaz truck or from an infantry fighting vehicle. I don't understand. If he fell, if it was an accident, why would they hide it from us?

In his opinion, in their desire to conceal the true circumstances of what happened to Magomedbek, the military command is coming up with different versions.

"At first they said he fell from a tower, 3.5 meters headfirst. If he had fallen headfirst, he would have broken his spine. But that's not true. Now they have new versions: that he fell from a Kamaz truck, or that he fell from an infantry fighting vehicle. I don't understand. If he fell, if it was an accident, why would they hide it from us? When I went to Naro-Fominsk myself, because no one from the unit called, the first question I asked them was, 'Why didn't you tell me? What were you hiding? If it was an accident?' "They simply remained silent," Khizbulaev said.

If garrison military investigators delay opening a case, then it's necessary to write to their superiors, to the Military Investigative Department of the Investigative Committee, noted a representative of the Soldiers' Mothers Committee, who wished to remain anonymous.

"In theory, there should already be a preliminary medical report, and he should also receive insurance for his injury. You can make an appointment with the military prosecutor. Of all the military, they used to be the most respectable, but now their powers have been limited. But you can still complain to them. And to get the case moving, you need to be as proactive as possible in your appeals and statements. And of course, you also need a competent lawyer to pester the investigator. "Since the relatives are the victims, they can hire a lawyer themselves," he told a "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

Lawyer Abusupyan Gaitae believes that a criminal case should be opened in any case in such an incident.

"They should definitely open a case, for example, under Article 111 (intentional infliction of grievous bodily harm), because his testimony and the injuries he sustained, which are severe, are sufficient. He says so, and the injuries, the examination immediately shows whether he was beaten or not, that is, violent actions. This is completely out of the question," he told a "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

Lawyer Timofey Shirokov stated that only hyperactivity can disrupt the military investigation, as the investigative departments are currently overwhelmed with cases. "A refusal is desirable for them. To avoid this, they need to be pushed. Even if they refuse under one article, say, hazing, there are other articles, such as safety violations that result in harm to health. They must create conditions where the service member is not exposed to risk, unless it's during the performance of assigned combat missions," he told a "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

The lawyer pointed to several authorities to which they should appeal.

"The Ministry of Defense itself, the prosecutor's office, the Investigative Committee, the human rights ombudsman, the courts through which the refusal can be appealed, and the presidential administration. This could drag on for months, even years. There are no guarantees. But in any case, the father and his relatives shouldn't rest easy," Shirokov stated.