️ On April 24, a criminal case against a 45-year-old citizen of Uzbekistan who fought on the Russian side in the Russia-Ukraine war was heard in the criminal court of the Uchtepa district of Tashkent. According to court documents, the man went to Russia for work in 2016 and worked in various regions until 2022.

️ While at a homeless shelter in Moscow, volunteers allegedly offered him to sign a contract with the Russian Ministry of Defense to participate in the special military operation in Ukraine. He purportedly signed the contract in early 2022, underwent training, and served as a rifleman in combat.

️ Court materials state that he sustained head and back injuries from a drone explosion and was treated at a military hospital in Rostov-on-Don. He later escaped from the hospital and returned to Moscow. In November 2025, he was detained by police for living without registration and deported to Uzbekistan.

️ He returned to Tashkent in January 2026. Subsequently, his sister contacted law enforcement, claiming that her brother had served in the Russian armed forces and threatened her and her children. A forensic examination revealed old scars on his head, chest, and back.

️ At trial, the defendant partially admitted guilt, claiming he did not participate in the special operation and that a photo of him in camouflage holding an assault rifle was taken in Chechnya. However, his sister testified that he joined the Russian army in 2022, was wounded in Ukraine, and repeatedly threatened her.

️ The court found the defendant guilty under Part 1 of Article 154 (Mercenarism) of the Criminal Code and sentenced him to 5 years in a general-regime colony. Mitigating circumstances included partial admission of guilt, remorse, and no prior convictions, but the court noted the crime was committed for mercenary and base motives.

Source: www.gazeta.uz