A soldier from Kabardino-Balkaria was convicted of abandoning his unit.

The court sentenced Stanislav Babov from the Prokhladnensky District to one year 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 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 southern Russia of the opportunity to resign.

Garrison courts in southern Russia are refusing to grant claims from service members seeking dismissal due to the expiration of their contracts, citing the mobilization decree.

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

According to the court, Babov "on March 17, 2025, during mobilization," failed to report for duty at his military unit without good reason.

"On April 10, 2025, Babov was found at his place of residence in the village of Proletarskoye, Prokhladnensky District, Kabardino-Balkarian Republic, by police officers searching for him for evading military service. From March 17 to April 10, 2025, he was in custody. "He spent his time at his own discretion at his place of residence," the publication states.

In court, Babov fully admitted his guilt "and expressed regret for his actions." "Babov was sentenced to one year of imprisonment in a general regime penal colony. The convicted person was taken into custody in the courtroom," the statement noted.

The court's press service did not provide the defendant's name. According to the case file on the court's website, the defendant is Stanislav Babov. The file indicates that the case was transferred to the judge on October 13, and that the verdict was handed down today, at the 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 have concluded that a presidential decree is 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 "a partial mobilization was declared in the Russian Federation, which was not completed at the time the crime was committed."