Moscow
Thousands of army conscripts are injured every year in harsh hazing rituals, and dozens die, Human Rights Watch said this week. The Russian military tradition known as the “rule of the grandfathers” subjects first-year soldiers to brutal treatment at the hands of their older peers. The hazing often includes random beatings, starvation, and even gang rape. In the first half of this year alone, 25 Russians were killed by hazing, and 60 of 109 suicides among servicemen were attributed to the practice. The Committee of Soldiers’ Mothers, a Russian advocacy group that has long accused the military of condoning brutal conditions, said the report was a welcome international recognition of soldiers’ suffering.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
-
Foreigners in Spain facing a 100% tax on homes as the country battles a housing crisisUnder the Radar The goal is to provide 'more housing, better regulation and greater aid,' said Spain's prime minister
-
Codeword: January 22, 2025The Week's daily codeword puzzle
-
Sudoku medium: January 22, 2025The Week's daily medium sudoku puzzle
