Media: Russia tries contract soldier who served in Syria over loss of military property
Russian contractor Artem Hilko, who served in Syria in one of the units of the Taman Motorized Rifle Division, has become a person of interest in a court case, reported Kommersant daily.
The Private is being tried under Article 348 of the Criminal Code, which involves violation of the rules for the care of weapons, ammunition or military equipment entrusted for official use, if this led to their loss through negligence. What and under which circumstances Hilko lost such equipment is a secret of the investigation; it is only known that the crime was committed in the Syrian Arab Republic. The publication notes that the Taman Motorized Rifle Division is often engaged in the transportation of goods and equipment from the port of Tartus to Khmeimim airbase.
The soldier has fully admitted his guilt. However, there has not yet been a consideration of merits, as there were difficulties with determining the jurisdiction of the case. Kommersant notes that minor crimes where Article 348 applies are usually considered in garrison military courts. However, because of its security classification, Hilko’s case was sent to the Moscow District Military Court, which later handed it over to the court in Rostov-on-Don.