Uzbekistan Court Sentences Man to Prison for Fighting on Russia’s Side in the War

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — The Pap District Criminal Court has handed down a verdict against D.I., a 38-year-old Uzbek national who participated in the armed conflict against Ukraine on the side of Russia.

According to the case materials, in March 2023 the man traveled to Russia for work and was employed at construction sites. In September 2024 he was detained for violating migration regulations, after which he signed a contract with the Russian Ministry of Defense.

The defendant underwent military training and was deployed to the combat zone in the Zaporizhzhia region. The court established that D.I. was involved in supporting military units, received monetary payments, and in March 2025 was wounded by shell fragments. He was subsequently granted a short-term leave but did not return to his post, fearing for his life, and traveled back to Uzbekistan.

During the trial, the defendant fully admitted his guilt and stated that he had signed the contract under threat of deportation.

The court found him guilty under Part 1 of Article 154 ("Mercenary Activity") and Part 1 of Article 154-1 ("Enlistment, Recruitment for Military Service, Service in Security, Police, Military Justice, or Other Similar Bodies of Foreign States") of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

D.I. was sentenced to 3 years and 1 month of imprisonment to be served in a general-regime correctional colony.