Uzbek Woman Sentenced to Three Years for Attempting to Recruit Nationals for Fighting in Russia and Ukraine

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — The Navoi Regional Criminal Court upheld the sentence of a 44-year-old Uzbek woman convicted of attempting to recruit fellow citizens to participate in the armed conflict between Russia and Ukraine.

According to the investigation, in October 2024, N.U. traveled to Samara, Russia, at the invitation of an acquaintance (whose case was separated for independent proceedings). The man claimed to have participated in combat, sustained injuries, and earned US$30,000–US$40,000 per year, while continuing to receive monthly payments. Together, they devised a plan to enlist Uzbek citizens to join the conflict in Ukraine.

Returning to Uzbekistan in January 2025, N.U. offered A.P., who cooperated with the Navoi Regional State Security Service, participation in military operations in exchange for financial compensation—US$4,000–US$7,000 per month, up to US$40,000 per year.

On February 16, when attempting to transport A.P. via the Navoi checkpoint in Tashkent region to Kazakhstan for subsequent transfer to Russia, she was detained by law enforcement.

In court, witness A.P. stated that he met N.U. in late January through mutual acquaintances and continued communication via Telegram. She offered him a job in Samara with an annual income of US$40,000 and a monthly salary of 170,000–300,000 rubles, specifying that it involved combat in Ukraine. She indicated that US$10,000 would go to her acquaintance and an additional US$5,000 would allow him to be “specially wounded in the leg” after two months of service to survive. She also claimed that he could learn to handle weapons in two months.

Initially, the plan was to fly him, but due to high ticket costs and advice from her acquaintance, a taxi was used instead. Realizing that participation in the conflict constituted a criminal offense, A.P. reported the matter to law enforcement on February 15, providing detailed testimony and assisting in the investigation, including recorded conversations with N.U.

On May 19, the Karmaninsky District Court found N.U. guilty under Part 2 of Article 154 via Article 25 of the Criminal Code (attempted recruitment, training, financing, or material support of mercenaries and their use in armed conflict) with application of Article 57 CC, which allows sentence mitigation. She was sentenced to three years in prison, fully admitting guilt and expressing remorse during the hearing.

N.U. appealed, requesting a reduced sentence or alternative punishment, but on July 8, the Navoi Regional appellate court upheld the original verdict.