Kashkadarya Resident Jailed for Mercenary Activities

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.uz) — A 31-year-old Uzbek citizen identified as A. M. has been sentenced to three years in prison after the Yakkabag District Criminal Court found him guilty of mercenary activities.

According to the case materials, the man travelled to Russia for work in December 2022. He was later convicted of drug possession and sentenced to nine years and six months in prison.

The defendant told the court that while serving his sentence, he was pressured into taking part in the armed conflict between Russia and Ukraine. He said he was subjected to pressure at the correctional facility and placed in solitary confinement several times. As a result, he signed a one-year military service contract in August 2025.

According to his testimony, he was promised a one-time payment of 1.2 million roubles, a monthly salary of 210,000 roubles, Russian citizenship and the expungement of his criminal record after one year of service.

While participating in the fighting, the man sustained severe injuries. He lost sight in his left eye after being wounded by shrapnel. After being transferred to a hospital, he left the medical facility and contacted the Embassy of Uzbekistan in Moscow.

After receiving a certificate allowing his return, he travelled back to Uzbekistan. During the trial, he fully admitted his guilt and asked the court for a more lenient sentence.

The court found A. M. guilty under Part 1 of Article 154 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Uzbekistan ("Mercenary Activities") and sentenced him to three years in prison.