04:54, 31 July 2026

A soldier was convicted in Nalchik for leaving his duty station without permission.

The Nalchik Garrison Military Court sentenced Fanil Shafikov to two years' imprisonment for absence from service during mobilization.

As reported by the "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. Tightening of legislation after the announcement of mobilization led to harsher sentences for absence from a military unit or desertion.

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 concluded that a presidential decree was not needed to end partial mobilization, Putin's press secretary explained. At the same time, on December 12, 2023, in its verdict on a mobilized soldier who left his unit in June 2023, the military court in Maykop emphasized that "a partial mobilization was declared in the Russian Federation, which was not completed at the time the crime was committed, without good reason, the press service of the Nalchik Garrison Military Court reported on its VKontakte page.

On May 2, 2026, Shafikov voluntarily reported to the military investigative department in Nalchik, and from April 4 to May 2, he spent time at his own discretion in Kabardino-Balkaria.

The Nalchik Garrison Military Court found Shafikov guilty of evading military service during mobilization and sentenced him to two years in prison.

According to the criminal case file on the court's website, Fanil Shafikov's case was submitted for consideration on July 20, and Judge Pyatov delivered the verdict at the first hearing on July 28.

"Caucasian Knot" also reported that a court in Nalchik had previously sentenced Rustam Datsiev to five years and six months in prison, finding him guilty of being absent from work for more than a month.

Translated automatically via Google translate from https://www.kavkaz-uzel.eu/articles/425352