A serviceman from Kabardino-Balkaria was convicted for being absent from his unit.

A military court in Nalchik sentenced Beslan Khamukov to five 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 leaving a unit or place of service without permission during mobilization, were added to 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 Khamukov was found guilty on March 4 under Part 5 of Article 337 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation (which carries a sentence of five to 10 years in prison), the Nalchik Garrison Military Court reported on its VKontakte page.

According to the court, Khamukov left his military unit in Stavropol Krai without good reason "on January 9, 2025, during mobilization."

"On April 21, 2025, Khamukov voluntarily reported to the military prosecutor's office of the garrison in Nalchik, and from January 9 to April 21, 2025, Khamukov spent time "at his own discretion, at his place of residence," the publication states.

In court, Khamukov fully admitted his guilt. "The defendant was sentenced to five years of imprisonment in a general regime penal colony," the statement noted.

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 Beslan Khamukov. The case was submitted to the court on February 12, and the verdict was rendered at the hearing on March 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. Lawyers have concluded that a presidential decree is not needed to end partial mobilization, Putin's press secretary explained.

Moreover, on December 12, 2023, a military court in Maykop, in its verdict against 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."