Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — A resident of Uzbekistan’s Kashkadarya region has been sentenced for participating in armed conflict in Ukraine as part of the Wagner private military company, according to the Karshi District Criminal Court.

According to case materials, the 59-year-old man traveled to Moscow in February 2020 to seek employment. Sometime later, he was arrested on suspicion of killing a fellow dormitory resident. In August 2021, a court sentenced him to nine years in prison.

In September 2022, he joined the ranks of the Wagner Group. In exchange for participating in combat against Ukraine, he was promised a monthly salary of 100,000 rubles, Russian citizenship, and exemption from serving the remainder of his sentence. He took part in military operations for six months and was later officially pardoned.

He remained in Russia until March 2025, after which he returned to Uzbekistan. Upon arrival, he voluntarily reported to the regional office of the State Security Service (SGB), where he submitted documents confirming his participation in the conflict.

The court found him guilty under Part 1 of Article 154 of Uzbekistan’s Criminal Code (“Mercenarism”) and sentenced him to 3.5 years of restricted freedom.