Death of a Soldier
A tragic story I came across on the death of a soldier from Aktobe [RUS]. Apparently on March 4, Sergeant Marat Serkebayev, commander of novice platoon 97617, stationed in Almaty oblast, hit Private Azamat Orazbayev, killing him on the spot from failure of the heart and lungs.
According to Megapolis [RUS] (which has the most detailed account of the incident), the commanding Lieutenant assembled the battalion for the usual end of the day debriefing when he was summoned by his commanding officer. Serekbayev was left in charge of the platoon. Apparently, Serekbayev lined the platoon up and began examining them. When Orazbayev’s answer did not please him, he punched him in the rib cage, knocking him to the floor. He never regained consciousness. Two other soliders were also beaten although they did not die.
Serekvbayev, who has not denied his guilt, has been removed from duty and the investigation is ongoing.
It is further alleged [RUS] that the army notified the parents by saying “[Your son] died. Do you want us to send you the body or will you come to get it?” No apology, no introduction, no softening the blow. Just a bureaucratic problem to be solved.
This case is more disturbing taken in conjunction with the recent sentencing of another sergeant for beating recruits. This case, in which a young recruit also died of his injuries, is even more disturbing because it appears that the convicted had a criminal record before he joined the Army. He received 5 years of jail time, which some feel is highly disproportionate to his crimes.
I will note from personal experience that when I recently lectured about getting a job in the US, I mentioned in response to a question that military service tended to look good on a resume because it indicated the applicant had discipline and knew a number of job skills. The audience looked shocked before explaining to me that most people in Kazakhstan view soldiers as one step above criminals. Is that in fact the case? How do you feel about soldiers? Why is the army not better regulated?
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Yes, this is the case unfortunately. Overwhelming majority of the families doesn’t want their sons to go to army. The reason is violence and total mess in the structure and personnel. Moreover, in Kazakhstan army soldiers are not getting valuable managerial experience or experience of being disciplined, but they get the skill of building cottages for generals, sweeping the floors, cleaning potatoes etc. The soldiers are often considered as brute and dumb. The reason is that most of them are from the auls (villages), and it is said that they even pay bribes to get in the army. There is an interesting phenomenon which may be proving this argument. In the end of 90th most of the young people got the notifications to go to army and most of them had to pay of from that duty. Now, as the villagers are paying for the places, most of the young people are not getting this notification and are not invited to the military registration offices. However some do anyway, so military commissars are doing well, receiving money for both going to army and dodging the army.
It is really too bad and extremely confusing to me because everyone seems to worship veterans here and yet soldiers are treated badly. In any case, there was no need for these kids to die. They didn’t do anything wrong and it’s a shame no matter what the context. Whether they were from the village or not, they shouldn’t have died.
I think poor people join the Army not for the Army, but as a stepping stone to enter the police, customs or some other place where you can make real money and be set for life. So the hazing may be worth it, it doesn’t mean their stupid, just thinking longer term.
Also, it’s not military veterans that are honored, but specifically veterans of WWII (VOV), yes? or for that matter, veterans of labor can get some respect. Afghan veterans have had to fight to get recognition. So a guy who peeled potatoes isn’t going to get a seat on the bus, but then, if he set himself up in the police, he won’t need one.