Uzbekistan’s Consulate General in St. Petersburg has intervened to assist an Uzbek citizen who was allegedly misled into signing a contract to serve in the Russian Armed Forces, the Consulate announced on November 12.
According to the Consulate, a citizen identified as K.M. appealed for help after their child, K.R., reportedly signed the contract while held in pre-trial detention in Kolpino, Leningrad Region. K.R. had been taken into custody on charges of intentionally inflicting minor bodily harm on another Uzbek national.
K.M. told consular officials that K.R. suffers from serious mental health issues and had been deceived into agreeing to military service while in detention. The parent requested that the Consulate assist in nullifying the agreement.
The Consulate stated that it had promptly contacted the relevant Russian authorities, including the Human Rights Commissioner for Leningrad Region, urging a review of the case and protection of the detainee’s legal rights.
As a result of these efforts, Russian officials acknowledged K.R.’s objections to military service. The Consulate confirmed that no military contract was finalized and that the detainee was returned to the Kolpino detention center, where the investigation remains ongoing.
The Consulate emphasized that it is closely monitoring the case and will continue to safeguard the legal rights and interests of the Uzbek citizen.
The Times of Central Asia has previously reported on several instances in which Central Asian migrants have faced pressure to join Russia’s military amid recruitment campaigns targeting foreign nationals, particularly migrant workers.
