A soldier from Prokhladny was convicted of abandoning his unit

A court in Nalchik sentenced Alexei Salov to a term in a penal colony, finding him guilty of unauthorized abandonment of a unit during mobilization.

As "Kavkazsky Uzel" wrote, on September 24, 2022, parts 2.1, 3.1 and 5 of Article 337 on unauthorized abandonment of a unit or place of service during mobilization were introduced into the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation. The amendments provide for imprisonment for up to 10 years. Tightening of laws after the announcement of mobilization led to harsher sentences for absence from a military unit.

23:48 04.01.2023

Mobilization has deprived contract soldiers from the south of Russia of the opportunity to resign

Claims by servicemen who are seeking dismissal due to the end of their contract are being refused by garrison courts in the south of Russia, citing the decree on mobilization.

A serviceman named Salov was found guilty under Part 5 of Article 337 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation 1, the Nalchik Garrison Military Court reports on its VKontakte page.

According to the court, Salov, without good reason, "on December 5, 2024, during the mobilization period" did not show up at the military unit at the appointed time.

"On April 22, 2025, Salov was found in the city of Prokhladny, Kabardino-Balkarian Republic, by military personnel of the military commandant's office, and from December 5, 2024 to April 22, 2025, Salov spent time at his own discretion at his place of residence and evaded military service," the publication says.

In court, Salov admitted his guilt. "Salov was sentenced to real imprisonment for a term of 5 years in a general regime penal colony," the court reported.

The defendant's name was not mentioned in the publication. According to the case file on the court's website, updated on September 12, the convicted person is Alexei Salov.

Recall that on September 21, 2022, Vladimir Putin announced a partial mobilization. On October 28 of the same year, the Minister of Defense reported to the President on its completion, but no corresponding decree followed. Lawyers came to the conclusion that a presidential decree is not needed to complete partial mobilization, Putin's press secretary explained.

At the same time, on December 12, 2023, the military court in Maykop, having sentenced mobilized Vladimir Litenkov to five years in prison for leaving his unit without permission in June 2023, emphasized that "a partial mobilization was declared in the Russian Federation, which was not completed at the time Litenkov committed the crime".