Battalion of exemplary discipline
Being here makes soldiers think about life
2001-03-16 / Ilya KEDROV

50 meters from the gate, an iron strip lying across the road with thorns sticking out of it is striking. On the concrete fence there is an inscription: "Parking is prohibited. If this requirement is not met, the weapon is used to kill." At the top of the fence - barbed wire, at the corners - towers.

Correctional labor colony? No, this is a military unit - the 306th separate disciplinary battalion of the Siberian Military District. However, behind the checkpoint, inside the "perimeter", the disbat does not at all look like a "zone": an ordinary parade ground, ordinary barracks without bars on the windows. In general, the usual military unit. Almost. Out of habit, only the rare discipline of the soldiers is surprising - here the rank and file salute even the sergeants (as, in principle, this is prescribed by the charter) and appearance military personnel: on old-style wadded jackets, the name of its owner is written on the chest, the number of the unit is written on the back and sleeve.

The reduction of the Russian army also affected the disciplinary units. To date, there are four of them, while two battalions are in the Siberian Military District: one in Chita, the other in Novosibirsk. Previously, there were 5 companies in the 306th "Chita" disbat, now there are only two left, plus a guard company. As of February 1, 2001, the battalion's lists included 165 convicts, who are here called "privates of variable composition." They are guarded by 135 people and 16 dogs.

Officially, the 306th ODB "performs the tasks of re-educating convicted servicemen in accordance with the order of the Minister of Defense # 302." Both those who are conscripted in the army and contract soldiers who decided to become professional soldiers before graduation run the risk of getting into the disciplinary battalion. urgent service... The military court sends here for both military and ordinary crimes. The lion's share of military crimes is hazing and abuse of office (there are 82 such convicts in the ODB as of February 1, 2001), as well as the unauthorized abandonment of a unit (31 people). However, in recent years, the number of people convicted of theft has increased (38 people).

Disbat for an offender is actually the last warning, an alternative, milder punishment than in a penal colony. Being in ODB is not yet imprisonment. Staying here does not spoil the biography - after serving the sentence, the conviction of the former "rank-and-file variable staff" lasts only for a year. The minimum sentence for a guilty soldier is 2 months, the maximum is 2 years. However, "monthly business trips" are not very popular with military lawyers: out of 165 convicted in the 306th ODB, only twelve have a six-month term (no less). Basically, they sit for a year or two.

The time spent by a soldier in the military battalion is not counted in the conscription period, however, in the form of a reward for good behavior, the commander of the district, to whom this military unit is directly subordinate, can make an exception by his order. But the exception has actually become the rule, and therefore, leaving the gates of the disbat, the soldier goes home.

There are, however, people who manage to get into the disciplinary unit again. In 1999, one person re-entered the 306th ODB, in 2000 - two. All of them before the second "call" after a short stay in the battalion were released under an amnesty, and, apparently, the short term of punishment did not add to their wits. The officers remember one incorrigible fighter who managed to get into the dispute three times.

If during the war the penalty boxers washed away their guilt with blood, then in peacetime the personnel of the disbat - then, since the main occupation of the "privates of variable composition" is unloading coal for the Chita garrison. It must be said that the labor productivity of convicts is the highest. For example, from ordinary units, in order to throw a coal, 15 soldiers are required on the car, and from the disbat four are allocated for the same job, and they can cope with it in 4 hours. Convicts are also sent to a military food factory, a military fur farm, to harvest vegetables at a military state farm, to unload wagons with food in the interests of the same Chita garrison.

In addition to work, the convicts, under the leadership of the sergeant, strenuously trample the parade ground, seeking high degree mastery in the execution of marching techniques, study regulations and undergo national training. The sergeants - squad commanders and assistants to platoon commanders, in total there are 21 people in the battalion - belong to the permanent composition of the unit. These are ordinary conscripts who are personally selected by the battalion command at the Chita regional assembly point. A candidate for the permanent composition of the disbat should not have problems with the law in civilian life, as well as convicted relatives. The battalion officers pay attention to the physical, moral and business qualities of conscripts.

Sergeants with convicts all day - from wake up to lights out, conduct classes with them, go to work. The sergeant also writes a report on unconvoy movement. "Raskonvoy" is one of the forms of encouragement, when people go outside the unit not accompanied by armed escorts, but only with a sergeant. This award can be awarded to someone who has already served a third of his sentence, is distinguished by exemplary behavior, and also passed off tests according to statutes and general civil training.

The experience of the disbat is also used for educational work in the troops. A video was shot about this part, which is shown in parts of the Siberian Military District. The commanders of the military unit of the Chita garrison lead "excursions" here: from 20 to 40 people of notorious violators of discipline. The battalion command tells about the conditions of detention, explains what the convicts are doing. The "guests" are taken to the guardhouse, to the parade ground, where at this time drills are held and tactical techniques are performed - dashes and crawling. Then, in the club, former colleagues who got into the dispatch battalion, face to face - the officers come out at the same time - explain to the "excursionists" that it is really better not to get here.

With the permission of the battalion command, I was able to talk with one of the "privates of variable composition."

Please tell me what is your name, what year of birth are you?

Shelekhov Vasily. Born on December 15, 1980. Drafted from the Republic of Buryatia on December 24, 1998. He served 16 months before committing the crime.

What was he sentenced for?

Article 335, part two, hazing. Was a senior in the dining room, beat up a subordinate. For a whole month I was in dress, because there were no people. I also left part of it without permission.

Why?

He worked part-time: he sold newspapers, traded in the market. Mom was left without work, I wanted to help her.

And why did he beat a subordinate?

Because he did not want to fulfill his duties.

Was anyone from your unit in the disbat?

Not at all.

Have you ever heard of a disbat?

That's right, I heard.

Does it sound like what they said?

They lied a lot ... But so ... it looks like.

How do they treat you here?

Good. The food is good. Cigarettes are given out. On New Year the command arranged a festive dinner. There were cakes, cookies, jellied meat. The food is good.

Have you ever been to a local guardhouse?

Yes sir.

Why did you get there?

An attempt at a bullying relationship. He pushed a colleague, he pushed me. Both were punished. For 5 days.

Did you draw any conclusions for yourself after serving in the disbat?

Here you begin to understand that your parents are waiting for you at home. Here you begin to see your life further.

What are you going to do after the army?

I'll go to work at a pulp and cardboard mill. It's good that they were sent to the disbat. After a year, the criminal record is automatically removed, and all this will be forgotten. I will tell my relatives and children that we are not judged.

What do you think, is it still worth going into conflict with the law?

No, the criminal life was enough. I learned a lot here. I began to think about life, I grew up. There is no such thing in the troops ... Although it is better there, of course. When I return home, I will tell the guys who have not yet been in the army that it is not necessary to use hazing relationships, that it is better to serve in the army.

And here are the scanty lines from the personal file of the convicted Shelekhov: "... on November 27, 1999 at 20.00 in the dining room of military unit 26001 Shelekhov, violating Article 16 of the RF Armed Forces Charter and Article 3 of the RF Armed Forces Disciplinary Charter, violated the statutory rules of relations between For allegedly poor work in the dining room, he found fault with his colleague Mavlyudkolov, with whom he was not in a subordinate relationship. in a boot, on the shin, from which the latter felt pain.On December 4, 1999, Shelekhov in the dining room, trying to force Mavlyudkolov to do the work, with the same purpose, together with Yulenkov (currently convicted, the sentence has entered into legal force) deliberately inflicted one on Mavlyudkolov a blow to the chest with a fist, and one blow to the back, inflicting beatings.On December 12, he in the canteen for poor work, with the same purpose, struck Mavlyudkolov about Dean punch on the head. On December 25, at 20.00, Shelekhov, with the same aim for poor dishwashing, struck Mavlyudkolov one blow in the face, one blow in the stomach and one blow with a foot, shod in boots, on the shin, inflicting beatings on the victim. As a result of the deed, he caused the victim multiple bruises of the soft tissues of the face and extremities, which were not regarded as causing harm to health. On February 6, he left the unit without permission. On February 10, wishing to earn money and help his parents, he voluntarily left the unit. "
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I will not undertake to comment on either the words of Vasily Shelekhov or his case. Apparently, the chief of staff of the battalion, Lieutenant Colonel Alexander Danilov, is right when he says that his charges are boys who have committed a crime only out of stupidity. From this point of view, it is good that disciplinary battalions exist at all. A real "zone" would ruin these guys' lives forever.