A serviceman from Nartkala received a prison sentence for evading military service.

A military court in Nalchik sentenced Dmitry Kushch 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 amended to 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 Kushch was found guilty on March 12 under Part 5 of Article 337 of the Russian Criminal Code (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, Kushch failed to report to his military unit stationed in the Volgograd Region on "August 19, 2025, during mobilization" without good reason.

"On November 3, 2025, Kushch was discovered by police in the city of Nartkala, and from August 19 to November 3, 2025, Kushch spent his time at his own discretion. at their place of residence," the publication says.

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In court, Kushch fully admitted his guilt. "In sentencing the defendant, the court took into account the impact of the sentence on Kushch's rehabilitation, who recognized the illegality of his actions, spoke truthfully about them, and expressed regret for his actions," the statement noted.

The defendant was sentenced to five years in prison. "The verdict has not entered into legal force and may be appealed by the parties," the court stated.

The court's press service did not provide the name of the convicted person. According to the case file on the court's website, the defendant is Dmitry Kushch. The case was submitted to the court on March 2, and a verdict was rendered at the very first hearing.

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 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, ."