Photo: zarnews.uz
A court in the Pastdargom district of Uzbekistan’s Samarkand region has sentenced a 51-year-old Uzbek citizen, identified as T.R., to four years of restricted liberty for working as a mercenary after signing a contract with the Russian military. The verdict, based on Article 154 (1) of Uzbekistan’s Criminal Code, was reported by UzNews.uz citing the official court ruling.
According to the investigation, T.R. left for St. Petersburg in 2021 in search of employment. In January 2024, Russian police detained him for violating residency regulations. While in pretrial detention, he was reportedly offered a contract by law enforcement officers to join the Russian Armed Forces and participate in the “special military operation” in Ukraine. The offer included promises of substantial monetary compensation and Russian citizenship. Claiming to be in a desperate situation, he agreed and signed a one-year contract for military service.
T.R. stated that his role involved constructing defensive fortifications—specifically bunkers—in the village of Kamenka, located in the Vyborg district of Leningrad Region. In July 2024, he received two transfers of 195,000 rubles ($2,400) and 500,000 rubles ($6,200), after which he was placed on a monthly salary of 37,000 rubles ($460).
During his service, the defendant developed abdominal pain and was hospitalized at a military medical facility in October. He was later transferred to a military sanatorium in Russia’s Krasnodar region, where he remained until early 2025. On January 10, he returned to Uzbekistan, where authorities launched a criminal case under the country's law banning mercenary activity.
During the trial, T.R. expressed remorse and asked the court for leniency. He was ultimately sentenced to four years of restricted liberty.
