YEKATERINBURG. Dec 20 (Interfax-AVN) - The military prosecutor's office of the Volga-Ural military district has denied media reports about the arrest of 13 servicemen who had fled from their unit near Yekaterinburg.
"The report is not true. None of the servicemen who had left their unit was arrested or sent to the stockade," Interfax was told at the press service of the prosecutor's office on Friday.
It said three of the 13 fugitives came to the prosecutor of the garrison after hearing his televised address on Thursday. "Steps are being taken to return the other servicemen as well," the press service said.
"The first investigative steps established that hazing had been the reason for the flight from the unit. In this connection a criminal case of hazing has been opened," the press service said.
However, the press service disapproved of the actions of the servicemen who deserted from their unit and called against doing so. "In case of threats to their life and health and also to protect their honor and dignity servicemen can use a hotline available from the military prosecutor's office," the press service noted.