The court of Jomboy district of Samarkand region sentenced a 56-year-old local resident to three years in prison for participating in Russia’s war against Ukraine, Sevimli TV reported.
According to case materials, the convict worked in St. Petersburg, Russia. In 2023, he was recruited to the Russian armed forces in pursuit of money, despite not being a citizen or serviceman of the state involved in the conflict.
The man underwent combat training and later took part in military operations against Ukraine, subsequently being granted Russian citizenship.
“We (those recruited — ed.) were told that they would give us a [Russian Federation] passport: '[After completing the military contract] you will be able to do any work you like'. Who would refuse such an offer? We were issued military IDs and told that we would not face any bans anywhere,” the convict said.
During combat operations in October 2023, the man was wounded and later returned to Uzbekistan. A search of his phone revealed photos of his military ID, which confirmed his enlistment in the Russian armed forces, along with a wound certificate from a military hospital, and a Russian passport.
The man was found guilty of violating the article 154−1 of the Criminal Code of Uzbekistan (enlistment in the military service of foreign state) and was sentenced to three years' imprisonment in a general regime colony. The court applied a lighter sentence given particular circumstances.
