Authorities investigate reports of over 1.1 thousand Uzbeks contracted as mercenaries in Ukraine war

MFA spokesperson Akhror Burkhanov confirmed to Gazeta.uz that the country’s law enforcement agencies are investigating reports that 1,110 Uzbek nationals entered into contracts with the Russian military to fight in Ukraine.

The investigation was prompted by a list recently published by Ukraine’s state project "I Want to Live", a program designed to help Russian soldiers voluntarily surrender. The list allegedly includes names of Uzbek nationals who signed contracts with the Russian Armed Forces and took part in combat operations in Ukraine.

When asked what consequences these individuals might face upon returning to Uzbekistan, the MFA spokesperson stated:

“Participation in military actions outside the country is prohibited by national legislation. Appropriate measures will be taken.”

Gazeta.uz also noted Ukraine’s claim that some of these individuals may already hold Russian citizenship. In response to whether this might shield them from liability, the MFA representative clarified:

“Indeed, dual citizenship is prohibited in Uzbekistan. Necessary measures will be taken,” confirming that holding another country’s passport does not exempt them from accountability.

The Foreign Ministry emphasized that Uzbek authorities regularly warn citizens that participation in any foreign military operations is strictly forbidden.

It is worth noting that both the Prosecutor General’s Office and the Ministry of Justice of Uzbekistan have repeatedly reminded citizens that engaging in armed conflicts on behalf of third-party states is a criminal offense.

Under Article 154 of the Criminal Code, mercenary activity - defined as participating in armed conflict or military actions in exchange for personal or financial gain without being a national, military personnel, or official of the involved state - carries a sentence of 5 to 10 years in prison.

Additionally, Article 154-1 prescribes that joining the military or security services of a foreign state, including the police or judiciary, is punishable by a fine of up to 300 times the base calculation amount (112.5 million UZS), up to three years of correctional labor, or up to five years in prison if the individual is recruited as a soldier.