Ferghana Resident Jailed for Foreign Conflict Role

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — A court in the Uzbekistan district of the Ferghana region has reviewed the case of a citizen accused of participating in an armed conflict on the side of a foreign state.

According to case materials, the defendant, born in 1999 and previously not convicted, left for Russia in 2021 for work. In 2022, he was sentenced by a court in the Kostroma region to eight years in prison on charges of illegal drug trafficking.

While serving his sentence, he signed a contract with the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation and in 2025 was deployed to a combat zone in the conflict against Ukraine. Several months later, he was injured in a drone strike and hospitalized in Moscow. He later left the hospital and returned to Uzbekistan.

During court proceedings, the defendant fully admitted guilt, stating that he had been subjected to physical and psychological pressure. He also reported that he is currently disabled and has been assigned a second-degree disability status.

The court qualified his actions under Part 1 of Article 154 of the Criminal Code of Uzbekistan, which provides liability for mercenary activity.

At the same time, charges under Article 154-1, relating to service in foreign armed or security forces, were deemed redundant and dropped.

In sentencing, the court took into account his confession, remorse, lack of prior convictions, positive character references, and health condition.

He was ultimately sentenced to four years of restricted freedom with a prohibition on leaving his place of residence.