Bukhara Court Sentences Uzbek Citizen for Mercenary Activity
A court in Uzbekistan's Bukhara region sentenced a 30-year-old man to three years in prison after convicting him of mercenary activity under the Criminal Code.
Bukhara Court Imposes Sentence on Uzbek National for Mercenary Activities
Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.uz) — A criminal court in the Gijduvan district of Uzbekistan's Bukhara region has convicted a 30-year-old Uzbek national of engaging in mercenary activities, resulting in a three-year prison sentence.
As detailed in the case documents, the individual traveled to Russia for employment in 2024. He recounted that after being apprehended by police, a confrontation involving himself, an acquaintance, and law enforcement escalated into a physical fight.
The accused stated that he was warned about potential criminal charges for assaulting a police officer and was subsequently offered a contract to join the conflict between Russia and Ukraine. He claimed he agreed to the contract out of fear of facing imprisonment.
Court records indicate that after signing the contract, he was dispatched to a military unit in Belouska, where he received military training. He was later injured during combat and required hospitalization for treatment.
In February 2026, after being granted leave, he returned to Uzbekistan and voluntarily reported to law enforcement about his involvement in the armed conflict.
The court convicted him under Part 1 of Article 154 of Uzbekistan's Criminal Code ("Mercenary Activity") and sentenced him to three years in prison.