Photo: uznews.uz
The Zafarabad District Court of Jizzakh Region, Uzbekistan, found a local resident who served under contract in the Russian army guilty of mercenary activities. The 24-year-old K.S. was sentenced to 4 years of restricted freedom, reports UzNews.uz citing court documents.
In October 2024, the Uzbek citizen traveled to Russia for work. According to him, he learned via Telegram about a job vacancy at a sawmill with a salary of 150,000 rubles (about $2,000). After passing a medical examination, the migrant signed an employment contract. He claims to have been deceived, as he later realized he had actually signed a contract with the Ministry of Defense for military service.
The defendant admitted that since November he had been guarding positions near the village of Bolshoye Soldatskoye in Kursk Region, Russia, close to the front lines between the Russian and Ukrainian armies. He was threatened that refusal to perform tasks would result in a 5-year prison sentence.
In January–February of this year, the foreigner was in the city of Sudzha, delivering supplies to combat positions. There, K.S. fell ill and was sent to a hospital, then to a treatment camp. Upon learning that he was to be sent back to the combat zone, the mercenary fled the camp and made his way to Moscow. He then contacted the Uzbek embassy and, receiving a «Certificate of Return,» flew back home.
According to the defendant’s testimony, he was paid 1.3 million rubles (over $16,000) for his service in the Russian army, which he sent to his parents and spent on uniforms.
At trial, K.S. asked the court to consider that he ended up in the special military operation unknowingly about signing the contract with the Ministry of Defense and returned to Uzbekistan at the earliest opportunity. He pleaded guilty and expressed remorse.
Ultimately, the court took mitigating circumstances into account and sentenced the mercenary to 4 years of restricted freedom. During this period, he is prohibited from participating in mass events, using the internet, leaving the Jizzakh region, or changing his place of residence without government permission.
