Soldier Who Voluntarily Left to Serve Ends Up in Mental Hospital

Daniyar Temirgali went to serve in Almaty military unit No. 61993; two weeks later, the young man told his parents about hazing.

Two months later, he ended up in a psychiatric hospital. His mother, Saltanat Syrazhanova, gave an interview to Orda.kz.

Aqtobe resident Daniyar Temirgali came to the military registration and enlistment office at the age of 18, underwent a medical examination, and was sent to military unit No. 61993 on August 3. 

I didn't want my son to join the army. But he didn't listen to me. My son is a candidate for master of sports in Greco-Roman wrestling. The first two weeks after his arrival, he called in good spirits. But two weeks later, during a video call, I noticed that he had cotton wool in his ear. When I asked what happened, he said: 'My ear hurts. The sergeant hit me with a chair,' the mother said.

After the blow, Daniyar started feeling dizzy, his ear and nose started bleeding, and his condition worsened.

A week later, his parents received a call.

They told me: ‘Your son doesn’t talk, he doesn’t eat, we can’t get him to talk.’ When (his - Ed.) father heard that our child had stopped talking, he immediately went to him, Saltanat says.

His mother says Daniyar did not recognize his father for three hours, shook his head, and could not speak.

After recovering, Daniyar said he would not return home and would complete his military service. 

A week later, Daniyar took the oath. His father was at the ceremony. Daniyar showed him the sergeant who assaulted him and even took a photo.

When I was told that my son had stopped talking and eating, I came to him in Almaty. Then my son told me: 'They take you to the bathhouse and beat you there.' I wanted to take him home, but he refused out of pride, saying: 'If I am destined to die, I will die here.' A little time passed, I came to the oath-taking ceremony, and again heard: 'Your son has stopped talking again.' his father said.

During the ceremony, a psychologist approached Daniyar's father and asked:

But my son said he wanted to stay, so I didn't report that he was being assaulted. After a while, they called me and said: 'your son is trying to commit suicide,' his mother said.

Saltanat had just undergone surgery but still flew to Almaty.

When I arrived at the military hospital in Almaty, my son did not recognize me. He ran away from me and hid in corners. I left for a while, and when I returned, I did not find my son in the ward. I finally found him. There was some paper next to him, and he was crying. I asked what kind of paper it was, and the psychologist answered: 'This is a document that says that your son is crazy.' The commander standing next to me said to me with a grin: 'You can call whoever you want.' He claimed that he saved my son when he tried to jump out of the window. This is a lie. I saw with my own eyes that my son could barely walk, let alone jump out of the window,  the mother said.

Daniyar is currently in the psychiatric department of a military hospital in Astana.

His mother said that after his arrival there, her son's condition improved, and he began to talk. A psychologist in the capital reported that Daniyar was utterly intimidated and was in a state of constant fear.

On December 2, Daniyar's mother received a call from a man who introduced himself as Serik Zhanbosyn; he invited her to the Ministry of Defense. 

She says the purpose of the meeting was to consider their lodged complaint.

The Ministry offered to transfer her son to a military unit in Aqtobe. However, neither the mother nor Daniyar wanted to.

The Ministry also told the mother that Daniyar allegedly asked his fellow soldiers how he could leave the army.

She does not believe this, claiming that her son voluntarily went to serve despite her objections.

I sent my perfectly healthy son to the army. They ruined his life. If my son had any mental problems, why did they accept him? Where are those responsible for this? I will see this out for my son! says Saltanat.

We have sent an official request to the Ministry of Defense. At the time this article was published, a response had not yet been received. The Orda.kz editorial team will follow the developments.

Original Author: Asem Zhuken