A soldier in Nalchik received a prison sentence for evading military service.

A court in Nalchik sentenced Ruslan Abazov to six years in prison, finding him guilty of leaving his unit without permission during mobilization.

As reported by "Caucasian Knot," on September 24, 2022, Parts 2.1, 3.1, and 5 of Article 337, concerning unauthorized abandonment of a unit or place of service during mobilization, were introduced into the Russian Criminal Code. The amendments provide for imprisonment for up to 10 years. Tightening of legislation after the announcement of mobilization led to harsher sentences for absence from a military unit or desertion.

A serviceman named Abazov was found guilty under Part 3.1 of Article 337 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation 1 , the Nalchik Garrison Military Court reported on its VKontakte page.

According to the court, Abazov left his military unit without good reason "on July 30, 2025, that is, during the mobilization period."

"On August 26, 2025, Abazov was detained in the Chegem District of the Kabardino-Balkarian Republic by police officers "[The defendant] Abazov was suspected of embezzling someone else's property, and from July 30 to August 26, 2025, he spent his time at his own discretion," the publication states.

The court also concluded that in August, the man stole 61,900 rubles from the bag of a female passenger on a scheduled bus. "The defendant Abazov fully pleaded guilty to the crimes with which he was charged," the court stated.

For all of the crimes, Abazov was sentenced to six years in prison, the publication notes.

The court's press service did not provide the name of the convicted man. According to the case file on the court's website, the defendant is Ruslan Abazov. The case was submitted to the court on November 13, and the verdict was handed down on December 4.

As a reminder, on September 21, 2022, Vladimir Putin announced partial mobilization. On October 28 of that year, the Minister of Defense reported to the President on its completion, but no corresponding decree followed. Legal experts concluded that a presidential decree was not needed to end partial mobilization, Putin's press secretary explained.

Moreover, on December 12, 2023, the Maykop Military Court, in its verdict on a mobilized soldier who left his unit in June 2023, emphasized that "a partial mobilization was declared in the Russian Federation, which was not completed at the time the crime was committed."