BISHKEK, January 24 Kyrgyz citizen Askar Kubanychbek uulu, who participated in the Russian military operation against Kiev, was sentenced in Bishkek to 7 years of probation under the article “Mercenarism,” the press reports. — service of the Pervomaisky district court of the Kyrgyz capital.
“By the verdict of the Pervomaisky District Court of the city of Bishkek dated January 24, 2024, K. uulu A. was found guilty of committing a crime under Part 1 of Article 416 of the Criminal Code of the Kyrgyz Republic (“Mercenarism” — ed.). He was sentenced to imprisonment for a term of 7 years… K. uulu A. was released from serving his sentence with probationary supervision for a period of 3 years,” the press service said in a statement.
According to the court, the preventive measure previously chosen for the accused in the form of detention was changed to a written undertaking not to leave the place until the court verdict comes into force.
In the summer of 2022, Kubanychbek uulu joined the armed forces of the LPR, which was not a Russian region at that time. According to investigators, there he was involved in reconnaissance operations using drones, and was also involved in providing material support to troops on the front line. In November 2022, on the basis of a dismissal report, he left the LPR and returned to Bishkek via Moscow, where he was detained by employees of the State Committee for National Security. The court of first and second instances found Kubanychbek uulu guilty under the article on mercenarism and sentenced to 10 years in prison. However, in August 2023, the Supreme Court overturned this verdict and sent the case for a new trial.
Later, the Russian Foreign Ministry reported that they were working on the issue of issuing a Russian passport to Kubanychbek uulu.