Andijan man jailed for joining Russian military in Ukraine war

Reportedly, the man, identified as D.M., traveled to Russia in 2021 for work. In October 2022, he and his father were detained by police in Moscow following a dispute with a Russian citizen.

He later signed a short-term contract with the Russian armed forces after officers told them they could be released if they agreed, according to his statement. D.M. said he accepted the offer reluctantly, fearing possible imprisonment due to issues with his documents, and claimed he was unaware that participation in the conflict was a crime.

He was sent to Luhansk for military training and later worked as a cook for Russian soldiers involved in combat operations between October and December 2022. He was eventually detained in April 2025 while crossing from Russia into Kazakhstan and was subsequently extradited to Uzbekistan.

A district criminal court in the Andijan region found him guilty under Article 154 of the Criminal Code and sentenced him to three years in prison. He was also ordered to pay UZS 19.38 million to cover the costs of his extradition.

Uzbek law strictly bars citizens from serving in foreign militaries or mercenary groups.