Andrei Sychov
Encyclopedia
Andrey Sergeyevich Sychyov ' onMouseout='HidePop("18528")' href="/topics/Krasnoturyinsk">Krasnoturyinsk
, Sverdlovsk Oblast
) is a former Russian soldier who served in an armored forces academy in Chelyabinsk
, Russia. He was tortured by at least four fellow soldiers and a sergeant on December 31, 2005. This case caused public opinion in Russia and especially NGOs like the Union of the Committees of Soldiers' Mothers of Russia
(CSMR) to blame the current administration, in particular Defense Minister Sergey Ivanov, for tolerating the practice of dedovshchina
, an organized system of hazing
, inside the military ranks.
On December 31, 2005, Sychyov and another seven soldiers were beaten for three hours by their seniors. Sychyov, then aged 19, was forced to squat for four hours with his hands tied behind his back while a sergeant beat him. On January 4, Sychyov attempted to receive medical attention, but his request was rejected by higher-rank officers. Only a few days later, due to the worsening of his health, he was transferred to the city hospital, where he was diagnosed with numerous broken bones, trauma to the genital area and gangrene
of the legs.
There are allegations that the military attempted to keep the case from the media and ordered the doctors to keep silent; however, one of the doctors treating Sychyov contacted Lyudmila Zinchenko, the president of the Committee of Soldier's Mothers, which, in turn, contacted Sychyov's mother, Galina Pavlovna Sychyova.
Sychyov's mother's last contact with her son was on January 3, when she called to congratulate him on the New Year. On the phone, he told her that he was not doing well and was about to be taken to a hospital. Once she received the news of the transfer, she attempted to contact her son at the hospital but was told that, due to the holidays, nobody would attend to her son until January 10. On January 7, however, she was contacted by a surgeon who told her to come quickly, as her son might not survive until the next day.
As a result of gangrene in the legs, which is a reduced blood flow, and lack of timely medical attention, doctors had to amputate both his legs, genitalia, and a finger.
Junior Sergeant Alexander Sivyakov, also a conscript, was found guilty of the torture and was sentenced to four years in prison, along with an additional three-year ban from the army and loss of military rank. Pavel Kuzmenko and Gennady Bilimovich were also found guilty and sentenced to one year's probationary sentence.
When questioned, the Defense Minister disregarded these claims at first, but was forced to take action shortly thereafter. Allegations appeared in the media during the trial, claiming that an FSB
agent unsuccessfully tried to bribe the mother of Andrey Sychyov to drop the case in return for monetary assistance.
In September 2007 it was reported that Andrey Sychyov tried to be included in the party election list of the Union of Right Forces
(SPS), for the State Duma
elections.
Krasnoturyinsk
Krasnoturyinsk is a town in Sverdlovsk Oblast, Russia, located on the Turya River , north of Yekaterinburg. Population: It was one of the copper mining settlements established in 1758 on the Turya River. At the time, it was known as Turyinskiye Rudniki . Later it was known as Turyinsky...
, Sverdlovsk Oblast
Sverdlovsk Oblast
Sverdlovsk Oblast is a federal subject of Russia located in the Urals Federal District. Its administrative center is the city of Yekaterinburg formerly known as Sverdlovsk. Population: -Geography:...
) is a former Russian soldier who served in an armored forces academy in Chelyabinsk
Chelyabinsk
Chelyabinsk is a city and the administrative center of Chelyabinsk Oblast, Russia, located in the northwestern side of the oblast, south of Yekaterinburg, just to the east of the Ural Mountains, on the Miass River. Population: -History:...
, Russia. He was tortured by at least four fellow soldiers and a sergeant on December 31, 2005. This case caused public opinion in Russia and especially NGOs like the Union of the Committees of Soldiers' Mothers of Russia
Union of the Committees of Soldiers' Mothers of Russia
The Union of the Committees of Soldiers' Mothers of Russia works to expose human rights violations within the Russian military.The organization was founded in 1989. Before 1998, it was known as the Committee of Soldiers' Mothers of Russia....
(CSMR) to blame the current administration, in particular Defense Minister Sergey Ivanov, for tolerating the practice of dedovshchina
Dedovshchina
Dedovshchina is the name given to the informal system of subjection of new junior conscripts, formerly to the Soviet Armed Forces and today to the Russian armed forces, Interior Ministry, and FSB border guards, as well as the military forces of certain former Soviet Republics, to brutalization...
, an organized system of hazing
Hazing
Hazing is a term used to describe various ritual and other activities involving harassment, abuse or humiliation used as a way of initiating a person into a group....
, inside the military ranks.
On December 31, 2005, Sychyov and another seven soldiers were beaten for three hours by their seniors. Sychyov, then aged 19, was forced to squat for four hours with his hands tied behind his back while a sergeant beat him. On January 4, Sychyov attempted to receive medical attention, but his request was rejected by higher-rank officers. Only a few days later, due to the worsening of his health, he was transferred to the city hospital, where he was diagnosed with numerous broken bones, trauma to the genital area and gangrene
Gangrene
Gangrene is a serious and potentially life-threatening condition that arises when a considerable mass of body tissue dies . This may occur after an injury or infection, or in people suffering from any chronic health problem affecting blood circulation. The primary cause of gangrene is reduced blood...
of the legs.
There are allegations that the military attempted to keep the case from the media and ordered the doctors to keep silent; however, one of the doctors treating Sychyov contacted Lyudmila Zinchenko, the president of the Committee of Soldier's Mothers, which, in turn, contacted Sychyov's mother, Galina Pavlovna Sychyova.
Sychyov's mother's last contact with her son was on January 3, when she called to congratulate him on the New Year. On the phone, he told her that he was not doing well and was about to be taken to a hospital. Once she received the news of the transfer, she attempted to contact her son at the hospital but was told that, due to the holidays, nobody would attend to her son until January 10. On January 7, however, she was contacted by a surgeon who told her to come quickly, as her son might not survive until the next day.
As a result of gangrene in the legs, which is a reduced blood flow, and lack of timely medical attention, doctors had to amputate both his legs, genitalia, and a finger.
Junior Sergeant Alexander Sivyakov, also a conscript, was found guilty of the torture and was sentenced to four years in prison, along with an additional three-year ban from the army and loss of military rank. Pavel Kuzmenko and Gennady Bilimovich were also found guilty and sentenced to one year's probationary sentence.
When questioned, the Defense Minister disregarded these claims at first, but was forced to take action shortly thereafter. Allegations appeared in the media during the trial, claiming that an FSB
FSB (Russia)
The Federal Security Service of the Russian Federation is the main domestic security agency of the Russian Federation and the main successor agency of the Soviet Committee of State Security . Its main responsibilities are counter-intelligence, internal and border security, counter-terrorism, and...
agent unsuccessfully tried to bribe the mother of Andrey Sychyov to drop the case in return for monetary assistance.
In September 2007 it was reported that Andrey Sychyov tried to be included in the party election list of the Union of Right Forces
Union of Right Forces
The Union of Right Forces, or SPS , was a Russian democratic opposition party associated with free market reforms, privatization, and the legacy of the 'Young Reformers' of the 1990s: Anatoly Chubais, Boris Nemtsov, and Yegor Gaidar. Nikita Belykh was the last party's leader...
(SPS), for the State Duma
State Duma
The State Duma , common abbreviation: Госду́ма ) in the Russian Federation is the lower house of the Federal Assembly of Russia , the upper house being the Federation Council of Russia. The Duma headquarters is located in central Moscow, a few steps from Manege Square. Its members are referred to...
elections.
External links
- Andrey Sychyov at LentapediaLenta.RuLenta.Ru is a Moscow-based news website in Russian language, owned by Rambler Media Group which belongs to Prof-Media. It is considered one of the most popular Russian language online resources with over 600 thousand visitors daily....