Uzbek Court Jails Man for Fighting in Foreign Conflict

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — The Kagan City Criminal Court has issued a verdict against a 34-year-old resident of the Bukhara region, finding him guilty of participating in an armed conflict outside Uzbekistan and serving in the armed forces of a foreign state.

According to case materials, the man had been working seasonal jobs in Russia since 2022. In 2024, he joined the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation and took part in combat operations on the territory of Ukraine, including the Zaporizhzhia region and the area near the settlement of Novopil in Donetsk region.

During his service, he signed a one-year contract with the Russian Ministry of Defence and performed various duties, including transporting cargo and supporting military units. He was later injured and received medical treatment in military hospitals.

After returning to Uzbekistan, the man reported his involvement in military operations and provided investigators with relevant materials, including photographs and a copy of the contract.

In court, he stated that he had previously worked in Russia and, according to his testimony, signed the contract under pressure after being detained. He also spoke about the injury sustained in the combat zone and admitted to self-inflicted injury in order to leave the front line.

The court found that the defendant received monetary payments for his service and took part in combat operations. He fully admitted guilt and expressed remorse, citing difficult family circumstances.

Following the proceedings, the court found him guilty under charges related to mercenarism and entering military service in the armed forces of a foreign state.

Taking mitigating circumstances into account, he was sentenced to 3 years and 6 months in a general-regime correctional colony.