Uzbek citizen punished for participating in war on Russia’s side

An Uzbek citizen who took part in the war on the side of Russia has been sentenced to three years of corrective labor, QALAMPIR.UZ reports, citing court documents.

According to the ruling, the case was heard on January 6 this year by the Bandikhan District Criminal Court.

The court established that the man, born in 1993 and residing in Sherobod District of Surkhandarya Region, traveled to the Russian Federation on January 16, 2025, in search of employment. Through an acquaintance in Russia, he signed a contract with a military unit on April 7, 2025, to participate in the Russia–Ukraine war. After signing the contract, a total of 1.6 million rubles was transferred to a bank card opened in his name between May 5 and May 10, 2025.

The defendant underwent initial military training for 15 days. Together with other soldiers, he was deployed to a field area located about 15 kilometers from the city of Markov in the Luhansk People’s Republic, where he participated in military training activities for two months.

After some time, the man realized that participation in the war posed a serious threat to his life and that his actions were wrong. He fled the combat zone and, on September 21, 2025, applied to the Embassy of Uzbekistan in Moscow. With the assistance of the embassy, he returned to Tashkent on September 26 and was handed over to law enforcement authorities.

Under the court’s verdict, the man was found guilty under Article 154-1, Part 1 of the Criminal Code (entering service, enlistment, or recruitment into the military service, security, police, military justice bodies, or similar institutions of a foreign state). He was sentenced to three years of corrective labor, with 20 percent of his wages to be withheld in favor of the state. The 103 days he spent in detention were counted as three days of corrective labor each, leaving a final remaining term of two years, one month, and 26 days.

For reference, this is not the first case of Uzbek citizens being recruited in Russia to participate in the war against Ukraine. For instance, in August 2025, the “I Want to Live” project, launched with the support of Ukraine’s Ministry of Defense and Main Intelligence Directorate, published the names of 902 Uzbek citizens who had signed contracts with the Russian Armed Forces to take part in the war.

It is worth noting that earlier reports indicated that an Uzbek man had been sent to the war in Russia under pressure.