The soldier was convicted in Nalchik for absence from service.

The Nalchik garrison military court sentenced Marat Shikov to actual imprisonment for being absent from service for more than four months.

As reported by "Caucasian Knot", on September 24, 2022, parts 2.1, 3.1, and 5 of Article 337 on desertion or absence without leave during mobilization were introduced into the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation. The amendments provide for imprisonment for up to 10 years. The tightening of legislation after the announcement of mobilization led to harsher sentences for absence from military units or desertion.

Serviceman Shikov was accused of desertion during mobilization for more than a month (part 5 of Article 337 of the Criminal Code of Russia). This article provides for imprisonment from five to ten years.

The court established that on December 26, 2025, Shikov did not report for duty at the temporary deployment point of the military unit. Only on May 7 did the police find him in the Cherek district of Kabardino-Balkaria. For more than four months, the serviceman "spent time at his discretion, including at his place of residence," the court's press service reported on its "VKontakte" page.

Although Shikov "expressed regret for his actions" and truthfully recounted the details of the offense, the court took into account the severity of the crime and sentenced him to five years in a general regime colony. The sentence has not yet entered into legal force. The "Caucasian Knot" currently has no comments from the convicted or his lawyer regarding plans to appeal the sentence.

The court's message only mentions the last name of the convicted, while in the registry of the Nalchik garrison military court, the accused is listed as Marat Shikov. The case was submitted to the court on July 14 and was considered today in one session.

"Caucasian Knot" also reported that earlier the court in Nalchik sentenced serviceman Timur Nasypliyev to 5.5 years in a colony for two absences from service during mobilization.