The man, identified as T.A., traveled to Moscow in April 2023 to find work. Initially working temporary jobs, he later signed a contract with the Russian Armed Forces on July 21, 2023, agreeing to take part in the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. After his return to Uzbekistan on December 31, 2023, he voluntarily approached law enforcement authorities and admitted to being recruited by the Russian military.

Kun.uz reviewed court documents detailing the case. T.A. explained in court that he had been lured into military service by the promise of a high salary and compensation in case of injury. He underwent military training in June 2023, learning how to handle firearms at a training facility near Moscow. His contract guaranteed a monthly salary of 450,000 rubles, but he only received partial payments before the promised salary stopped altogether.

During his testimony, T.A. elaborated on the recruitment process:

"I arrived in Moscow on April 17, 2023, and initially worked as a butcher at a store for 15 days. In early May, I started working at the 'Navatek' oil exchange, where I met a Russian citizen named Igor Vladimovich. He suggested I join the Russian Armed Forces in the war against Ukraine, offering a substantial salary and additional compensation if injured. I was intrigued and, in June 2023, signed a contract to undergo two months of military training in Moscow. On July 21, I officially joined the Russian Armed Forces and was deployed to the cities of Shakhtarsk and Bakhmut to participate in combat operations."

T.A. claimed to have fought until November 2023, killing over ten Ukrainian soldiers and serving in Luhansk for more than five months. Despite being offered the opportunity to remain in the Russian military, he declined and returned to Uzbekistan.

Upon his return, T.A. voluntarily reported his involvement to Uzbek authorities. He was charged under Article 154 (mercenary activities) and Article 154-1 (serving in foreign military, security, or police forces) of the Uzbek Criminal Code. The court sentenced him to four years and two months of restricted freedom.

This is not the first case of an Uzbek citizen being prosecuted for participating in foreign conflicts. Earlier, a student who traveled to Moscow for studies was also convicted for involvement in the war.