A serviceman was convicted in Nalchik for leaving his unit without permission.

A court in Nalchik sentenced Valery Gorbashchenko to five years in prison, finding him guilty of leaving his unit without permission during mobilization.

As reported by "Caucasian Knot," on September 24, 2022, Parts 2.1, 3.1, and 5 of Article 337, concerning leaving a unit or place of service without permission during mobilization, were amended to the Russian Criminal Code. The amendments provide for imprisonment for up to 10 years. Tightening of legislation after the announcement of mobilization led to harsher sentences for absence from a military unit or desertion.

A serviceman named Gorbashchenko was found guilty on April 23 under Part 5 of Article 337 of the Russian Criminal Code 1 , the Nalchik Garrison Military Court reported on its VKontakte page.

According to the court, Gorbashchenko left his place of service, a military unit in the Rostov region, without good reason "on September 18, 2025, during the mobilization period."

"On February 12, 2026, Gorbashchenko voluntarily reported to the police station in the city Prokhladny, Kabardino-Balkaria, and from September 18, 2025, to February 12, 2026, he spent time at his own discretion at his place of residence," the publication says.

The case of a contract soldier from Vladikavkaz highlighted the problem of violations of the rights of military personnel

The defendant fully admitted his guilt and "expressed regret for his actions."

The serviceman was sentenced to Five years in a general regime penal colony. "The convicted person was taken into custody in the courtroom and placed in a pretrial detention facility," the court announced.

The court's press service did not provide the convicted person's name. According to the case file on the court's website, the defendant is Valery Gorbashchenko. The case was submitted to the court on April 16, and the verdict was handed down at the first hearing.

As a reminder, on September 21, 2022, Vladimir Putin announced partial mobilization. On October 28 of that year, the Minister of Defense reported to the president on its completion, but no corresponding decree followed. Lawyers have concluded that a presidential decree is not needed to end partial mobilization, Putin's press secretary explained.

Moreover, on December 12, 2023, a military court in Maykop, in its verdict against a mobilized soldier who left his unit in June 2023, emphasized that "a partial mobilization was declared in the Russian Federation, which was not completed at the time the crime was committed."