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

A court in Nalchik sentenced serviceman Rezuan Kardanov to a prison term, finding him guilty of evading military service.

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 introduced into 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.

Serviceman Rezuan Kardanov was found guilty under Part 3.1 of Article 337 of the Russian Criminal Code (Unauthorized abandonment of a unit or place of service), 1 , the Nalchik Garrison Military Court reported on its VKontakte page.

According to the court, Kardanov "on July 3, 2025, during mobilization," committed unauthorized abandonment of his place of service and voluntarily reported to the military investigative department in Nalchik on July 21. "And from July 3rd to 21st, he spent his time as he saw fit," the publication stated.

The court also found that Kardanov had already been sentenced to imprisonment for one year, one month, and five days in a penal colony, which had not been fully served. "At the court hearing, Kardanov fully pleaded guilty to the crime charged," the court stated.

Based on the combined sentences, Kardanov was given a final sentence of three years in a general regime penal colony.

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 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 has been declared in the Russian Federation, which was not completed at the time Litenkov committed the crime."