A soldier was convicted in Nalchik for two counts of absence from his unit.

A military court in Nalchik sentenced Islam Teshev to seven years in prison for failing to report to his unit and leaving his duty station without permission.

As reported by "Caucasian Knot," on September 24, 2022, Parts 2.1, 3.1, and 5 of Article 337, concerning leaving a unit or duty station 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 Teshev was found guilty under Part 5 of Article 337 of the Russian Criminal Code 1 , the Nalchik Garrison Military Court reported on its VKontakte page.

Teshev failed to report for duty on April 19, 2024, without good reason, and left his duty station without permission on November 1, 2025. Both incidents occurred during mobilization, the court noted.

"On May 3, 2024, Teshev voluntarily reported to the temporary deployment point of the military unit, and on March 19, 2026, he was found by a police officer in Nalchik," the publication states.

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Teshev had already been convicted of illegally selling firearms and received a suspended sentence of three years with a two-year probationary period.

In court, the accused "expressed regret for his actions" and pleaded guilty. For all of his crimes and convictions, serviceman Teshev was sentenced to seven years in prison, and he will serve his sentence in a general regime penal colony.

The court's press service did not disclose the name of the convicted man. According to the case file on the court's website, the convicted man is Islam Teshev. The case was filed with the court on May 4, and Judge Lazarev delivered the verdict on May 20.

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."