A soldier was convicted in Nalchik for leaving a military unit.

A court in Nalchik sentenced Khusen Bakhmurziev to four years in prison, finding him guilty of evading military service during mobilization.

As reported by the "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. Tighter legislation following the announcement of mobilization led to harsher sentences for absence from a military unit or desertion.

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

According to the prosecution, the defendant failed to report to his military unit stationed in North Ossetia on March 11, 2025. On April 4, Bakhmurziev voluntarily reported to a police officer in the village of Nizhniye Achaluki that he was evading military service. From March 11 to April 4, he spent time at his own discretion at his place of residence.

Furthermore, he had outstanding and unexpunged convictions for intentional serious crimes, according to court orders, and he again committed an intentional serious crime, the press service noted.

At the court hearing, Bakhmurziev fully admitted his guilt to the crime charged, which was taken into account in his sentence to four years' imprisonment in a special regime penal colony.

The court press service did not provide the name of the convicted person. According to the case file on the court's website, the defendant is Khusen Bakhmurziev. The case was submitted to the court on December 11, and a verdict was issued on December 18.

As a reminder, Vladimir Putin announced partial mobilization on September 21, 2022. On October 28 of that year, the Minister of Defense reported to the President on its completion, but no corresponding decree followed. Lawyers 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 against a mobilized soldier who left his unit in June 2023, emphasized that "partial mobilization was declared in the Russian Federation, which was not completed at the time the crime was committed, ."