Uzbekistan court sentences citizen for mercenary activity

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — A criminal court in Altinkul district of Uzbekistan’s Andijan region has sentenced a 25-year-old citizen, identified as O.T., after finding him guilty of mercenary activity.

According to case materials, the man travelled to the Russian Federation for work last December. There, he met a local resident who offered him a job as a driver in a military unit and advised him to sign a contract, promising a payment of 2.5 million rubles.

After signing the contract, the citizen was sent to a military training ground in the Kursk region, where he underwent military training. He later participated in the launch of unmanned aerial vehicles toward the Ukraine border.

The court established that during one incident the man attempted to take cover from a drone and jumped into a basement.

His automatic weapon accidentally discharged several rounds, resulting in an injury to his left leg.

After receiving medical treatment at a hospital, he was granted leave. During this period, he contacted the Embassy of Uzbekistan and obtained a return certificate.

During the court hearing, the defendant admitted guilt, expressed remorse and requested leniency.

The court found O.T. guilty under Part 1 of Article 154 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Uzbekistan (mercenary activity) and sentenced him to three years in prison.