The serviceman was convicted in Kabardino-Balkaria for absence from service

The court in Nalchik sentenced serviceman Salim Zhigunov to six years in prison, finding him guilty of being absent from service for more than one month.

As reported by "Caucasian Knot", on September 24, 2022, parts 2.1, 3.1, and part 5 of Article 337 regarding the unauthorized departure from the unit or place of service 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 has led to harsher sentences for absence from military units or desertion.

According to the case materials, serviceman Salim Zhigunov did not report for duty on January 23, 2025. He was found by a police officer in Nalchik on April 12, 2026. Then, on May 27 of this year, Zhigunov again failed to report for duty, and on June 9, he himself arrived at the military investigative department.

The Nalchik garrison military court found Salim Zhigunov guilty of being absent from service for more than one month and sentenced him to six years of imprisonment in a general regime colony, the court's press service reported on its website.

"Caucasian Knot" also reported that earlier the court in Nalchik sentenced serviceman Artur Ulbashov to five years and one month in prison, finding him guilty of unauthorized departure from the unit.