The HRC took control of the arrest of the mobilized Leshkov, who humiliated the lieutenant colonel

Mobilized Alexander Leshkov, we recall, became the unfortunate hero of the sensational video from Alabin. The man demanded that the command solve a number of problems, and as a result, he sold out in earnest, saying that he would come to the headquarters and begin to “break limbs.”

A video with his impudent appeal to the lieutenant colonel became public and went viral on the Web. A criminal case has been opened (investigators suspect the serviceman of beating the chief during military service and insulting the chief), the Odintsovo garrison military court arrested Leshkov until January 14, 2023. Under the articles of accusation, the mobilized person faces a term of up to 15 years.

The incident occurred on November 13 during a drill review. Private Leshkov, using obscene language, expressed to the officers, in particular Lieutenant Colonel Mazanov, claims regarding the organization of the service, provision and fire training of the mobilized. During a conversation in raised tones, the serviceman blew cigarette smoke into the lieutenant colonel’s face. Mazanov removed the mobilized man with his hand, and he, in response, struck him with a single blow with his fist in the chest.

Opinions about this conflict are widely divided. So, military expert Yuri Podolyaka said that the army is not a farce, and the arrest of a fighter is the right decision. “Absolutely the right decision,” wrote the blogger. “Yes, there are jambs, and there are many of them, but the transformation of the army into a farce (soldiers’ committees of 1917, the council of Donbass field commanders of 2014-15) is her verdict.”

The battalion commander of the Vostok battalion, Alexander Khodakovsky, in his edifying manner, spoke about another terrible case of hazing, namely, about a mobilized man who shot at his commander.

“The commander, a great guy who fought from the fourteenth year, survived, although he suffered a lot. And the shooter explained his action like this: he abandoned his fighters … They began to establish the circumstances, and it turned out that we were talking about a situation when the convoy was returning from rest, and the commander in the lead car accelerated for some reason, and thereby caused a reaction .

It is obvious that a person with a machine gun has lost his adequacy and committed an act that any inadequate person with a machine gun in his hands can easily do for any important reason for him.

According to Khodakovsky, there are enough reasons for discontent at the front, but the lack of discipline among the mobilized and the desire to assert themselves “in the eyes of free spectators” can lead to tragedy.

Lawyer Dmitry Agranovsky is sure that the situation needs to be carefully examined.

“In all situations, we must respect the presumption of innocence,” he told MK. – Therefore, we should not draw any conclusions. The video recording is just possible evidence, which must be considered first by the investigation, then by the court.

Two versions of the record are being circulated on the Internet – one is short, where the blow is actually recorded, the second is a long one, which shows what preceded it. It is premature to draw conclusions, and even more so to put pressure on the investigation and defense, demanding some kind of reprisals or conclusions regarding the military, is fundamentally wrong.

According to Dmitry Agranovsky, his psychological state may be a kind of justification for Leshkov’s act – he, like many others, did not seem to be ready for hostilities.

“We must understand that we do not live in Soviet times, on the eve of World War II, when absolutely the entire population was ready, both physically and mentally, for difficult trials,” said the human rights activist. – It’s the opposite here. Therefore, one must understand that both the mobilized and the military are in a traumatic situation that no one expected. I really don’t want there to be any reprisals or show trials. This is absolutely wrong, inadequate and untimely. Society has not yet adapted to this situation. People are accustomed to a peaceful life, it is difficult for them to rebuild. And this also needs to be understood.

According to the expert, the punishment for Leshkov can be both real and conditional – “there are many options.” He also added that Leshkov could have filed a complaint, and these peaceful actions might have helped to avoid conflict and subsequent arrest.

– Now the military has a lot of ways to file a complaint. The complaint could be filed quite quickly, because all organizations, including the Ministry of Defense, have an Internet reception. You can also file a complaint in writing. As far as I know, there is a setting for these complaints to be considered.

Kirill Kabanov, a member of the Council for Human Rights under the President of Russia (HRC), also spoke on the conflict in Alabin.

– The situation is inadequate. It needs to be dealt with subtly and correctly, since we are dealing with people called up from a civilian life, who have taken place and, perhaps, some part of the claims was objective.

But claims against the army also do not give rise to any action. We understand that in wartime this can end up in a tribunal. Thank God it’s not war time yet.

Kirill Kabanov also told MK that the HRC is closely monitoring the situation and even intends to appeal to the command of the arrested person.

“Perhaps we will contact the command for clarification. If possible, we want to talk with Leshkov’s colleagues. While we are on constant monitoring. I know that there have already been such conflicts between officers and mobilized. It’s just that the reservists don’t understand a little that they are no longer in the “civilian”. And there are many complaints not only because of all sorts of nonsense and misunderstandings, as the president said, but also because of abuses and violations.

But even in Soviet times, in the Soviet army with iron discipline, such punishments were not so severe. There must be order in the army – I myself am a career officer, and I understand everything. I think the court will evaluate all the circumstances.