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Dedovshchina () is the name given to the informal system of subjugation of new junior recruits for the Russian armed forces, MVD, and border guards to soldiers of the last year of service as well as NCOs and officers. It involves violent (and sometimes fatal) hazing but is not limited to it, being not unlike an extremely vicious form of bullying. It is often cited as a major source of poor morale in the ranks.
Etymology
The term is derived from "ded", the Russian word for grandfather, meaning soldiers at their fourth and last half-year of conscription, with the suffix -shchina which designates type of order (rule, regime) (compare Yezhovshchina, Zhdanovshchina).
History
This started as a modern parallel to the worst historical forms of fagging in British schools, even with an organized hierarchy, but there the very professional hierarchy actively joins in making it utter abuse, causing many recruits to avoid service for fear of their health or even their lives.
The origin of this problem is often attributed to the change in conscription term with a new law of October 12 1967, when two different groups of conscripts were simultaneously present in the army: those who were drafted for 3 years service and those only for 2 years. While oppression by older conscripts has probably always taken place in the army, after that date it become organized and with its own rules and ranks.
Government actions
Overall the state has done little to curtail Dedovshchina. On the specific issues of food denial and poor nutrition Deputy Minister of Defense V. Isakov flatly denied the existence of such problems.To Serve without Health?
See also
References
"Dedovshchina"