Russia: 120 conscripts injured amid growing brutality in army

The dismissal of Mikhail Klimenko, a colonel in the Railroad Troops, followed a review by an assessment committee, the agency cited Lt. Gen. Sergei Klimets as saying.

The soldier, Dmitri Panteleyev, died last week of injuries suffered in a beating. A criminal case has been filed against Capt. Vyacheslav Nikiforov, his commanding officer, who is under detention, Interfax reported.

The case underlined growing concern about widespread brutality in the Russian armed forces, where conscripts suffer hazing from fellow soldiers and officers. Russia's top prosecutor said this month that 17 soldiers had died from abuse in the first half of the year and another 120 had been injured, according to the AP.