Russian servicemen during training. Photo: tvzvezda.ru.
Two more citizens of Uzbekistan have been convicted at home after returning from service in the Russian army. The cases were reported by UzNews.uz, citing court rulings from the Fergana and Navoi regions.
The case of L. S., a 49-year-old resident of Fergana charged with mercenarism, was heard by the Besharyk District Criminal Court. According to case materials, in May 2023 he traveled to Russia for work but was unable to obtain a work permit. He then approached a military enlistment office, from which he was sent to a military unit, where he signed a contract and received 70,000 rubles. He was subsequently transferred to the Kamyenka unit, where he received an additional 50,000 and 170,000 rubles, and was later paid up to 150,000 rubles per month. The court noted that he was issued a migration card and visa documents and received money transfers totaling $420 as well as 45,000 rubles in cash.
In Kamyenka, he was given the rank of private, issued military equipment, and sent to the combat zone. From July 27, 2023, he took part in combat operations as part of the Russian Armed Forces, including in areas of Luhansk Region. The verdict states that he carried out fire support tasks and participated in armed clashes.
During his service, the man sustained multiple injuries of varying severity, including shrapnel wounds during artillery shelling. After treatment, he returned to the conflict zone several times. In June 2024, after receiving another injury, he was demobilized on health grounds and returned to Uzbekistan in September.
In court, he pleaded guilty and expressed remorse, stating that he is the sole breadwinner for his family, which includes his wife, a minor child, and a son who is a student. The court found him guilty under Part 1 of Article 154 (“Mercenarism”) of the Criminal Code and sentenced him to three years of restricted freedom.
A similar decision was issued by the Navoi Region Criminal Court in the case of S. S., a 28-year-old resident of Khatyrchi District. According to court materials, he traveled to Russia for work in 2021 and in April 2025 signed a one-year contract with the Russian Armed Forces.
After completing military training, including instruction in the use of firearms, explosives, and drones, S. S. was deployed to the area around the city of Luhansk. There, he was injured in a drone attack. After treatment in a hospital, he returned to Uzbekistan and reported the incident to law enforcement authorities. A forensic examination recorded injuries of moderate severity.
In court, S. S. admitted guilt and said he had found himself in difficult life circumstances. The court qualified his actions under Part 1 of Article 154 of the Criminal Code and, taking into account mitigating factors—his guilty plea, remorse, and the fact that he has a family with a young child—applied Article 57 of the Criminal Code, which allows for a sentence not involving imprisonment.
Under the court’s ruling, S. S. was sentenced to four years of restricted freedom, with a ban on leaving his place of residence without permission and a number of additional restrictions.
Fergana has repeatedly reported on criminal cases in Uzbekistan brought under the article on mercenarism. Some defendants have received prison sentences, while others have been given restricted freedom. In November of this year, Uzbekistan’s State Security Service reported that since 2022, 338 criminal cases have been opened in the country in connection with citizens’ participation in armed conflicts abroad.
