A soldier was convicted in Nalchik for prolonged absence from his unit.

A court in Nalchik sentenced Ramazan Aydemirov to prison for deserting his military unit twice during mobilization—for six months and for 10 months. In both cases, the soldier was detained only after surrendering to security forces.

As reported by "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 added 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 Aydemirov was found guilty today under Part 5 1 of Article 337 of the Russian Criminal Code, the Nalchik Garrison Military Court reported on its VKontakte page.

According to the court, Aydemirov twice evaded service in a military unit in North Ossetia without good reason – "on August 24, 2024 and May 12, 2025, that is, in both cases during the mobilization period" – and "lived at his place of residence in the first case until February 18 2025, and in the second case until March 16, 2026."

As follows from the publication, in both cases, the serviceman, after a months-long absence from his unit, was detained only after he surrendered to security forces.

"In the first case, Aydemirov voluntarily reported to the police department in the city of Mozdok in the Republic of North Ossetia-Alania, and in the second case, he voluntarily reported to the military investigative body stationed in Mozdok," the report states.

Expressed regret for his actions

Aydemirov "admitted guilt in committing the crimes and expressed regret for his actions," the publication notes.

"At the same time, when sentencing, the court took into account the factual circumstances of the case related to the periods of Aydemirov's evasion of military service, the nature and degree of public danger "The defendant committed two serious crimes against military service within a short period of time," the court stated.

For the combined offenses, Aydemirov was sentenced to six years in a general regime penal colony. "The convict was taken into custody in the courtroom and placed in a pretrial detention facility," the publication stated.

The court's press service did not provide the convict's name. According to the case file on the court's website, the convict is Ramazan Aydemirov. The case was submitted to the court on May 25, and 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, 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."