Kazakhstan Sentences Wagner PMC Mercenary Attempting to Escape to the U.S., Confiscates Earned Money

In Kazakhstan, a mercenary from the Wagner PMC, who fought against Ukraine as part of the Russian invasion forces, has been sentenced.

ASTRA reported on this.

The Almaty court sentenced Kazakhstan citizen Timur Praliyev to five years in prison for participating in combat operations in Ukraine as a member of the Wagner PMC.

As the media specifies, he was found guilty of participating in armed conflicts on the territory of a foreign state.

During the sentencing, the court also ruled to confiscate the mercenary’s money, valued at $5,500, as well as 500 Malian francs and other funds acquired through criminal means.

In addition, Praliyev is required to pay into the victim compensation fund. His bank cards, medals, and certificates of award are to be destroyed.

It is reported that before participating in the war against Ukraine, Praliyev also fought as part of the Wagner PMC in the African republic of Mali.

After leaving the group, Praliyev tried to enter the U.S. illegally, but was arrested in Texas and deported back to Kazakhstan.

No escaping justice

In Central Asia, countries are actively prosecuting their citizens who violated local laws by fighting as part of the invasion forces.

In June, it was reported that in Uzbekistan, a 25-year-old citizen was sentenced to five years in prison for participating in the war on Russia’s side against Ukraine. He was found guilty of mercenary activities.

The accused, born in 2000 and known only by the initials U.M., traveled to Russia for work in July 2021.

According to him, in September of that year, his employer instructed him to deliver a package. During a check, the police discovered a packet of heroin inside it. The man was arrested, and they went to his employer together, but he had disappeared.

On April 22, it was reported that in Kyrgyzstan, law enforcement detained municipal employees and a local journalist, who are suspected of recruiting mercenaries to participate in the war against Ukraine.