Abandoned by Russia: Mercenary Who Fought Ukraine Faces Deportation to Uzbekistan

A citizen of Uzbekistan has been detained in Moscow and may face deportation to his home country, where he could be imprisoned for participating in the war against Ukraine.

The independent outlet ASTRA reported the incident.

The individual in question is Abduzokhid Toirov, a 36-year-old serviceman whose identity was confirmed using facial recognition technology.

According to ASTRA, Toirov is on an international wanted list and has been charged in absentia in Uzbekistan with mercenarism, as defined under the country’s Criminal Code.

Toirov holds Russian citizenship, which he obtained back in 2021, prior to his involvement in combat operations. He had been living in the Ryazan region.

He signed a contract with the Russian Ministry of Defense in October 2022. His legal status did not raise any concerns until he arrived in Moscow, where he was subsequently detained.

Authorities in Uzbekistan, specifically the Altinsay District Police Department, have already been notified of his detention. The mercenary’s future remains uncertain.

Recent reports indicate that Russia continues to actively recruit citizens from Central Asian countries, despite efforts by those governments to counter the activities of recruiters.

Labor migrants seeking work in Russia remain the primary target of such recruitment campaigns.

Representatives of Russian military structures reportedly mislead foreign nationals by offering short-term contracts with promises of high pay, without properly informing them about the risks and consequences of participating in the war.

It is also reported that a court in Uzbekistan sentenced a 25-year-old citizen to five years in prison for fighting on Russia’s side in the war. He was found guilty of mercenarism.

In Kyrgyzstan, law enforcement recently detained municipal employees and a local journalist suspected of recruiting mercenaries to fight in the war against Ukraine.