Chief of the border commandant's office “Vorukh” of military unit 0215 deployed in Sughd’s Isfara district, Lieutenant-Colonel Nuzhat Lazuriyev, has been arrested over the bulling case in the military unit.
The Prosecutor-General Office reported yesterday that criminal proceedings have been instituted against Lieutenant-Colonel Lazuriyev under the provisions of article 391 (3) of Tajikistan’s Penal Code – abuse of power or office, excess of official or service authority or inaction of power, causing grave consequences; an investigation is under way.
If convicted Lazuriyev could face eight to twelve years in prison.
Five soldiers of military unit 0215 were detained on April 24. The announcement came hours after a video showing a group of soldiers beating and humiliating a group of recruits appeared on the Internet and caused a public outcry just as conscription to mandatory two-year service in Tajikistan started.
The Prosecutor-General's Office said on April 24 that five soldiers were detained and they face a charge of violating military regulations on relations between personnel.
Bullying and hazing — sometimes with lethal consequences — have been a problem in Tajikistan.
