Ferghana court sentences man in mercenary case

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — A court in Ferghana Region has issued a verdict in a mercenary-related case, according to a decision of the Ferghana District Criminal Court dated April 28.

According to case materials, a 25-year-old citizen identified as Y. M. left for Russia in 2023 for employment, where he was later sentenced to 20 years in prison for illegal drug trafficking.

While serving his sentence, the man was offered to join armed forces. He initially refused but later agreed, citing difficult detention conditions and a desire to be released. In August 2025, he signed a contract and was sent to a training ground in Donetsk for military preparation.

Later, he was hospitalized in Moscow, where he received treatment for four months. In January 2026, he left the medical facility and contacted the consular center of Uzbekistan, reporting that he had been recruited to participate in military operations. He was issued a return certificate to Uzbekistan.

During the court proceedings, the defendant admitted guilt and requested leniency.

The court found him guilty under Part 1 of Article 154 of the Criminal Code of Uzbekistan (mercenary activity) and sentenced him to three years of corrective labor with a 20% deduction from his salary in favor of the state.