A 25-year-old Uzbek citizen identified as J.N. has been convicted of mercenary activities by a criminal court in the Shakhrikhan district. According to the court verdict, he traveled to Russia in June 2022 to work as a delivery driver.

Court documents reveal that the defendant was stopped by patrol officers in Russia, who discovered over 450 grams of heroin in his vehicle. He claimed ignorance of the drugs, but was sentenced to 10 years in prison in January 2023.

While serving his sentence, prison authorities allegedly pressured him to join the Russian Ministry of Defense for combat operations. Those who refused were reportedly placed in isolation. J.N. himself was sent to a punishment cell after initially refusing.

After a month, prison staff allegedly promised him Russian citizenship, release, and a large sum of money if he participated in the war. In September, he was sent to Luhansk for military training.

While heading to Donetsk for combat, he was reportedly attacked by a drone and wounded. During treatment, part of his foot and two toes were amputated. He received 3 million rubles for his injury.

He managed to escape from a military hospital and contacted the Uzbek consulate in Moscow, obtaining a certificate to return home. In court, he expressed remorse and claimed he was forced into military service in Russia.

The court found J.N. guilty under Article 154, Part 1 of the Uzbek Criminal Code (Mercenary activities) and sentenced him to 3 years in prison.

Source: uznews.uz