Rishtan Court Convicts Man of Mercenary Activity, Sentences Him to Three Years of Restricted Freedom

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — The Rishtan District Criminal Court reviewed the case of a man accused of mercenary activity.

According to case materials, in March 2023 the defendant traveled to Voronezh, Russia, where he began working for a food delivery service. During his employment, he was detained for illegal circulation of psychotropic substances and sentenced to six years and six months in prison.

While serving his sentence, individuals claiming to be representatives of the Russian Ministry of Defense approached him, offering a list of volunteers to participate in military operations between Russia and Ukraine. Those who signed contracts were promised a monthly reward of 1.2 million rubles, Russian citizenship, and exemption from the remainder of their prison term.

The defendant stated that he refused to participate in combat eight times. However, on July 23, 2025, under the influence of fellow inmates, he signed a contract with the Russian Ministry of Defense. After completing military training at a range in Luhansk Oblast, he was assigned to a military unit, where from 23 July to 30 September 2025, he took part in combat operations against Ukraine and sustained injuries.

On 29 October 2025, the man returned to Uzbekistan with documents confirming his injuries. Upon his return, he voluntarily reported to the Rishtan District Department of Internal Affairs and submitted copies of the medical documents.

The court found the man guilty under Part 1 of Article 154 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Uzbekistan (“Mercenary Activity”) and sentenced him to three years of restricted freedom.