Uzbekistan has seen a dramatic increase in criminal cases related to mercenary activities over the past three years. In 2022, only 19 cases were filed under Article 154 of Uzbekistan’s Criminal Code – mercenary activities, but by 2025, the number had risen to 139. Fergana news agency says the figures were revealed in a documentary titled “Uzoqdan Izlagan Bakht” (Happiness Sought from Afar) produced by the Service for National Security (SNS) of Uzbekistan.
According to the agency, since 2022, a total of 338 cases have been opened involving Uzbek citizens participating in armed conflicts abroad. The SNS notes that each year, hundreds of individuals are found to have joined international terrorist or extremist groups or fought with foreign military formations as mercenaries.
In many cases, individuals are recruited through criminal networks, misled by false promises, or lured by financial incentives.
Under Article 154 of Uzbekistan’s Criminal Code, participation in armed conflict on behalf of a foreign state or group carries a prison sentence of 5 to 10 years. Recruitment, training, funding, or deployment of mercenaries is punishable by 7 to 12 years in prison.
Case statistics over recent years show a steady increase:
· 2022: 19 cases
· 2023: 68 cases
· 2024: 112 cases
· 2025: 139 cases
The media has previously reported on several such cases. For instance, in October this year, a 55-year-old man from Namangan Region was sentenced to two years in prison for signing a contract with the Russian Ministry of Defense and serving in its armed forces. A 32-year-old man from Bukhara Region received a five-year sentence for taking part in combat in Ukraine’s Luhansk region.
What about Tajikistan?
Tajikistan also criminalizes mercenary activities under Article 401 of its Criminal Code. Recruitment, training, funding, or use of mercenaries in armed conflict is punishable by 5 to 12 years in prison. If government officials or minors are involved, the sentence ranges from 7 to 15 years, and may include confiscation of property.
For Tajik citizens who unlawfully participate in military conflicts abroad, the penalties are more severe — from 12 to 20 years of imprisonment.
However, the law allows for exemption from criminal responsibility if the individual voluntarily withdraws before the conflict ends and has not committed any other crimes.
No official statistics have been released regarding the number of mercenary-related cases in Tajikistan in recent years.
