An investigation has been launched in the Russian republic of Tuva, where Sergei Shoigu was born, after reports that cases of cruel treatment of contract servicemen were recorded in one of the military units, TASS reports.
"In particular, there were beatings and the use of electric shock before they were sent to the SVO zone", the state agency writes (Russian authorities call the war against Ukraine a "special military operation (SVO)").
A day earlier, Russian pro-military channels on Telegram published a video allegedly showing a military policeman beating servicemen from the 55th Motorized Rifle Brigade of Tuva, before sending them to the front in Ukraine, notes "Mediazona" (in the register of "foreign agents").
The published video is from January 16, and the description of the clip states that "the brigade sends sick servicemen from the point of permanent deployment to the front line by military aircraft with the help of military police", clarifies "Mediazona".
The recording shows a man in a uniform with the inscription "VP" (as a military policeman) inflicts nine blows with a baton on the body of a man, as well as twice with a stun gun, then approaches the second soldier, who is leaning on a cane, and also hits him with his baton.
RBK reports, citing the press service of the Central Military District, that the serviceman who "used physical force against his comrades" has been detained and a criminal case has been opened against him. The Telegram channel "Baza" claims that the people beaten in the video are "assault unit fighters".