Citizen of Uzbekistan jailed for fighting in Ukraine as Wagner mercenary

The Yangiyul City Court (Tashkent region) convicted A. Mukhtarov for participating in armed conflict as part of the Russian paramilitary group Wagner and for the illegal possession of narcotics.

According to court documents, in September 2022, Mukhtarov traveled to Russia and, intrigued by an online advertisement, arrived at Wagner’s military training camp near the village of Molkino. There, he underwent combat training and signed a contract to join the group. He subsequently took part in fighting against the Ukrainian Armed Forces. During one of the battles, he sustained serious injuries from grenade shrapnel and was evacuated for treatment to hospitals in Donbas and Moscow. He returned to Uzbekistan in March 2023.

In February 2025, during a police operation at his home, authorities found a 9.74-gram packet of marijuana, which Mukhtarov claimed was for personal use.

The court classified his actions under Article 154, Part 1 (Mercenarism) and Article 276, Part 1 (Illegal possession of narcotics) of Uzbekistan’s Criminal Code. Taking into account his admission of guilt, remorse, and lack of prior convictions, he was sentenced to 5 years and 1 month in a general-regime correctional colony.