Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

Russian Conscript Found Hanged In Khabarovsk

October 13, 2009

KHABAROVSK, Russia -- A young soldier was found dead in a military unit near Khabarovsk in Russia's Far East, RFE/RL's Russian Service reports.

Denis Kostenko, 19, was drafted into the army from Volgograd Oblast during the spring.

He was found hanged on October 10 with bruises and scratches on his body.

Military investigator Vladimir Lymar of the Far East Military District told journalists that two senior soldiers, who were expected to be discharged from the army on October 20, were arrested as suspects.

The issue of young conscripts being bullied in hazing incidents by more experienced soldiers has been the focus of Russian rights activists for several years.

Source: http://www.rferl.org/content/Russian_Conscript_Found_Hanged_In_Khabarovsk/1850468.html

Copyright (c) 2009. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.