Uzbek agency warned against taking part in Ukraine war

Uzbekistan's agency for external labour migration has warned the country's citizens against taking part in Russia's war in Ukraine, following a fresh call in Russia for Uzbek citizens to join the conflict.

"The agency recalled that, according to Article 154-1 of the Criminal Code of Uzbekistan, the enrolment of Uzbek citizens into military service, into the service of security agencies, police, military justice or other similar bodies of foreign states is punishable by a fine of up to 300 basic calculation units [about $8,200 at the current exchange rate] or correctional labour of up to three years. Recruiting an Uzbek citizen for the same purpose entails restriction of liberty from three to five years or imprisonment from three to five years," Gazeta.uz reported on August 9.

Earlier on the same day, the head of an organisation of Uzbeks of Russia's Perm Territory called on Uzbek natives living in Perm to take part in Russia's "special military operation" in Ukraine.

"Our children attend kindergartens and study at schools, colleges and universities. We live and work in Russia. We not only have to but we are also obliged to justify the bread that we eat. I propose to form a volunteer battalion and call it the great name 'Amir Timur'; and to support Russia's special military operation to demilitarise and de-Nazify Ukraine," the head of the Central Asian Society of Uzbeks of Perm Territory, Jahongir Jalolov, said.

Earlier, on 26 July, the external labour migration agency warned citizens against falling prey to "false" ads on social media for high-paid jobs as private security guards. Those advertisements "could be linked to the private Russian military company Wagner, whose units are located in battle zones in Ukraine", the agency said.