Serviceman Convicted in Nalchik for Absence from Unit

A court in Nalchik sentenced serviceman Elberdov to five years in prison, finding him guilty of unauthorized abandonment of his unit during mobilization.

As "Kavkazsky Uzel" wrote, on September 24, 2022, parts 2.1, 3.1 and 5 of Article 337 on unauthorized abandonment of a 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. Tightening of laws after the announcement of mobilization led to harsher sentences for absence from a military unit.

Serviceman Elberdov was found guilty under Part 5 of Article 337 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation 1, the Nalchik Garrison Military Court reports on its VKontakte page.

He spent his time at his own discretion

Mobilization deprived contract soldiers from the south of Russia of the opportunity to resign

According to the court, "on August 9, 2024, during the mobilization period," Elberdov failed to show up for service without good reason in military unit. "On November 25, 2024, Elberdov was found by a police officer in the village of Kishpek, and from August 9 to November 25, 2024, he spent his time at his own discretion and evaded military service," the publication says.

The defendant admitted guilt and "expressed regret for what he did," the court clarified. "Elberdov was sentenced to real imprisonment for a term of 5 years," the statement says.

Elberdov's name was not mentioned in the publication. As of 09:43 Moscow time on July 7, a search for his case card on the court's website yielded no results. "Not all categories of cases are subject to publication, and the search result may not display the full list of cases pending in court," the statement on the case file page says.

Recall that on September 21, 2022, Vladimir Putin announced partial mobilization. On October 28 of the same year, the Minister of Defense reported to the President on its completion, but no corresponding decree followed. Lawyers came to the conclusion that a presidential decree was not needed to complete partial mobilization, Putin's press secretary explained.

At the same time, on December 12, 2023, the military court in Maykop, having sentenced mobilized Vladimir Litenkov to five years in prison for leaving his unit without permission in June 2023, emphasized that "a partial mobilization was declared in the Russian Federation, which was not completed at the time Litenkov committed the crime."