Strasbourg, France- The European Court of Human Rights Thursday ordered Russia to pay 10,000 euros (15,800) dollars in compensation to an army recruit who collapsed while performing 370 knee-bends.

The Strasbourg-based court found the 26-year-old suffered long- term damage to his health as a result of harsh physical training that amounted to cruel and inhuman treatment.

In 2001, the recruit was ordered to perform the knee-bends as punishment for failing to clean his dormitory properly. A doctor who was called in to treat him after he collapsed, diagnosed a spinal injury, which left him with a limp.

The recruit was later discharged from the military.

In another case, the court ordered Russia to pay 175,000 euros in compensation to three Chechens, whose relatives were arrested during illegal military operations and never seen again. (dpa)