A woman protests against army abuse in St.Petersburg in early February (epa)
9 February 2006 -- A Russian army sergeant suspected of beating a young conscript who then had to have his legs amputated has been arrested in Khabarovsk, in Russia's Far East.
Sergeant Dmitry Nagaitsev reportedly admitted to beating up conscript Yevgeny Koblov in May last year, who then fled his unit to spend 23 days in an underground basement.
Koblov was found by technicians who sent him to hospital where his legs had to be amputated.
Hazing practices are believed to have been long widespread in the Russian Army. An incident earlier this year where another conscript had to have his legs amputated after a severe beating by more senior servicemen sparked public outrage in Russia.
(RIA Novosti, AFP)