Contract soldier from Dagestan sentenced for non-appearance at his unit

Nurmet Madjidov, a contract soldier from Dagestan, has challenged the verdict for his unauthorized absence from his military unit, stating that the court had failed to take into account his desire to go to the special military operation (SMO) zone. The Rostov-on-Don Military Court has upheld the five-year prison term for more than three-month-long absence from his service.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that the Russian legislation tightening after the announcement of mobilization resulted in harsher sentences for one's absence from military service or desertion.

The appellate instance of the Southern District Military Court has upheld the verdict passed by the Makhachkala Garrison Military Court to Nurmet Madjidov. He was absent from service for at least several months and was detained on December 11, 2023. One of the witnesses stated that Madjidov had lived in his house since September 8 of the same year.

In his appeal complaint, Nurmet Madjidov asked to mitigate the verdict, stating that he had fully admitted his guilt and repented; but the court failed to take into account his desire to go to the SMO zone. As the absence reason, he cited his illness that he had treated at home, and reported it to his service unit.

The court has upheld the verdict, according to which Madjidov was sentenced to five years in penal colony. The court in Rostov-on-Don has also ordered him to pay a fine for the illegal purchase and storage of a bag of marijuana in the fall of 2022, says the website of the Southern District Military Court.