Two Uzbek citizens have been convicted for involvement in military activities in Ukraine, according to reports from Andijan and Fergana region courts. The defendants include a 22-year-old student and a 39-year-old labor migrant, both of whom served under contracts with the Russian Armed Forces.
Case of the 22-Year-Old Student
In the Fergana region, the Koshtepa District Court tried A.Kh., a 22-year-old student who had traveled to Moscow to attend a private university. He signed a year-long contract with the Russian military and served for four months.
A.Kh. testified that he was initially detained by police in Russia for lacking residency documents. He was presented with three options: deportation, criminal charges, or military service, with the promise of Russian citizenship. Opting for military service, he used his earnings to purchase a car and an apartment in Tolyatti. He also received a medal and Russian citizenship.
Later, A.Kh. deserted the military and returned to Uzbekistan, citing financial hardship as his primary motivation. He explained that he needed money for his mother’s cancer treatment and expressed remorse during the trial.
The court convicted A.Kh. under Article 154 of the Criminal Code (Mercenarism), sentencing him to 5 years in prison. However, this was reduced to a conditional sentence with a 3-year probation period, considering his family circumstances and cooperation.
Case of the 39-Year-Old Migrant
Earlier Daryo reported that the Andijan City Criminal Court convicted 39-year-old T.A., who traveled to Russia in April 2023 for work but later signed a contract with the Russian Armed Forces in July. He participated in combat until December before voluntarily surrendering to Uzbek authorities upon his return, providing details of his service.
During the trial, T.A. admitted he joined for financial reasons, enticed by a promised monthly salary of 450,000 rubles but received only 300,000 rubles. He also confessed to killing over 10 Ukrainian soldiers. After refusing to continue service, he returned to Uzbekistan.
T.A. was found guilty under Articles 154 (Mercenarism) and 154-1 (Joining or Recruiting for Foreign Military Service) of Uzbekistan’s Criminal Code and sentenced to 4 years and 2 months of restricted freedom.
Warnings Against Mercenary Activity
Uzbekistan prohibits its citizens from participating in foreign military conflicts. Authorities have reiterated the legal and moral consequences of such actions, urging citizens to avoid involvement in armed conflicts abroad.
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