Russian court sentences mobilised soldier who beat up his officer to six years behind bars

The Omsk Garrison Military Court has sentenced mobilised soldier Ivan Martynov to six years in a strict regime penal colony over charges of beating up a military officer, as per the court’s website, with the verdict initially being reported on by Mediazona.

The sentence was made on 17 February. The court also ruled that Martynov has to compensate the victim, officer Perevalov — the exact amount Martynov will have to pay is unknown.

According to the prosecution, the intoxicated draftee punched the officer in the head “at least 20 times” because he wanted to get even for the “previously made, justified service-related remarks”. Martynov partially admitted guilt.

According to the soldier, the conflict was initiated by officer Perevalov, who was also intoxicated, and both servicemen hit each other five times. At the same time, the court was aware only about the injuries suffered by Perevalov — a closed head injury, haemorrhage in the brain, and displacement of an organ 7 mm to the right.

The witnesses claim that the officer did not fight back. According to one of Martynov’s fellow soldiers, the draftee demanded the beaten up officer hand him his ID and kept saying that he had located a spy.