Uzbekistan Sentences Two for Fighting in Ukraine

Two Uzbek nationals have been convicted of mercenary activity — a criminal offense in Uzbekistan — for participating in the war in Ukraine, Orda.kz reports, citing UzNews.uz.

The first case involved a 32-year-old man from the Buxoro region who moved to Russia in 2018 for work and obtained Russian citizenship without renouncing his Uzbek citizenship. In 2024, he signed a contract with the Russian Ministry of Defense and was deployed to Luhansk in July.

He was wounded in a missile strike after a few weeks and declared unfit for service. After receiving a payout of three million rubles, he returned to Uzbekistan. Evidence of his participation in combat was found on his phone, and the court sentenced him to five years in prison.

In the second case, a 41-year-old from the Andijan region went to work in Ingushetia in 2023 and later joined the Russian military. He fought from April to December 2024 and was injured. After being sent on leave, he was detained for lacking documents and deported to Uzbekistan.

During the questioning, he admitted to fighting and expressed remorse. The court sentenced him to three years and one month in prison.

Previously, Orda.kz reported on a Kazakh national from the Ulytau region who served in the Wagner PMC and fought against Ukraine. 

Upon completing his contract, he returned to Kazakhstan and was sentenced to four and a half years in prison.

Original Auhtor: Zarina Fayzulina