Nationalistic conflicts in Russian Army

Military unit located in city Samara is in the midst of a scandal: two soldiers could not tolerate their being harassed by the fellow-soldiers from Caucasian republics Ingushetia and Dagestan, and complained to the Office of Military Public Prosecutor.
They complained at being beaten and extorted.

Soldiers from the republics of North Caucasus region established a sort of a friendly association of people from same area in the military unit. They beat Russians and representatives of other nations and demanded money, the harassment applied not only to soldiers, but also to junior commanders and even to some officers.

Here are some quotes from soldier Stanislav Andreev’s claim,

"Some representatives of Dagestan and Ingush diasporas which constitutes about 50 percent of the entire unit personnel, constantly humiliate my and other soldier’s human dignity. The officers are prejudiced about Russian soldiers, they harass Russians if they commit minor wrongdoings. Meanwhile, the officers favor Dagestanians and Ingushs and do not punish them for wrongdoings. Dagestanians and Ingushs disrespect officers and curse at them. The diasporas soldiers listen to anti-Russian songs of Chechen singer Mussaraev who glorifies terrorists.

Soldier Andreev wrote that the Russian soldiers were used as servants and Dagestanians threatened to rape them and cursed them and their parents.
Russians leaving the barracks were ordered to bring some money, those who did not bring money were beaten.

In December 2003 several Ingush and Dagestanian soldiers tried to beat deputy regiment commander mayor Leonov. 

According to the Gazeta, Samara Office of Military Public Prosecutor started investigation.

This is not the first case of nationalistic conflicts in Russian Army. In August 2001, 72 soldiers left their regiment premises in the same Samara Military Garrison. The incident was caused by Dagestanins’ harassing soldiers of other nationalities. Investigation was conducted, several criminals were sentenced from one to several years of imprisonment.

In April 2003, 14 soldiers left their garrison in Veliky Novgorod. A day later, they came to the Office of Public Prosecutor. They said they were not deserting, but protesting against their being harassed. The command confirmed that their Dagestanian fellow-soldiers tried to use them as servants.