MOSCOW. May 5 (Interfax-AVN) - The North Caucasus Military District Prosecutor's Office has opened a criminal case against two sergeants from a military unit in North Ossetia, from which 14 servicemen deserted on Sunday.
Investigators are probing charges of abuse of office. They suspect the sergeants of systematically beating soldiers under their command, the press service of the Russian Main Military Prosecutor's Office told Interfax on Monday.
It said the deserters' claims that they had been beaten by two sergeants have been confirmed by a preliminary investigation. In particular, bruises were found on the soldiers' bodies.
The 14 servicemen fled their unit, which is part of the 58th Army, on Sunday. They were later found near the unit's base in Vladikavkaz.
"Observance of the laws on military service by certain officials is being looked into," the press service said.