Russian youth military club under scrutiny for instructor's past
The military-sports club "Specnaz" in Severodvinsk (Arkhangelsk Oblast in Russia) conducts training sessions for young people, which they proudly promote online. Russian media have discovered that one of the instructors has a criminal history, having been convicted of drug trafficking.
"Many people are mistaken and naive, believing that war won't affect them. Now it is clear that war, potentially a major one with the entire NATO bloc, is inevitable. You can continue watching this mind-numbing television and believe its nonsense, or you can study military affairs and prepare yourself," warns the military-sports club "Specnaz" administration from Severodvinsk, praising the classes for children and young people led by Wagnerite Konstantin Khozyaykin.
The media have ascertained that a man with the same first and last name was sentenced in 2019 to seven years in prison for drug trafficking, and in November 2024 he was sentenced to ten months of forced labour for stealing a television and an electric kettle.
The club denies the media findings
That's not all. In 2020, Khozyaykin sued the authorities of Severodvinsk, seeking 2 million rubles in compensation for the lack of social support following his departure from the orphanage. He claimed that due to the lack of assistance, he was compelled to lead an antisocial lifestyle, which resulted in his imprisonment. His lawsuit was dismissed.russia
Valentin Tabachny, the manager of the "Specnaz" club, informed an outlet that he is unaware of Khozyaykin's criminal past. "According to our information, none of our instructors or trainees have convictions. Everyone working with children must provide a certificate of no criminal record," said Tabachny, adding that he doesn't intend to check Khozyaykin's past because he has known him for years.
