The serviceman was found guilty in Nalchik for two episodes of absence from the unit.

The Nalchik garrison military court sentenced serviceman Bizhoev to six years in a penal colony for failing to report to his military unit and for desertion.

As reported by "Caucasian Knot", on September 24, 2022, parts 2.1, 3.1, and 5 of Article 337 on desertion during mobilization were introduced into the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation. The amendments provide for imprisonment for up to 10 years. The tightening of legislation after the announcement of mobilization led to harsher sentences for absence from military units or desertion.

The Nalchik garrison military court issued a verdict against a serviceman named Bizhoev, finding him guilty of committing two crimes under part 5 of Article 337 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation 1 , this was reported by the court's press service on July 1 on its page on "VKontakte".

The court established that Bizhoev, on November 6, 2024, and December 9, 2025, in both cases during the mobilization period, first failed to report to his military unit at the appointed time, and in the second case, deserted from his place of service, residing at his home in the first case until November 27, 2025, and in the second case until April 12, 2026.

In the first episode, the serviceman voluntarily reported to the police department of the Leskensky district of Kabardino-Balkaria, and in the second, he voluntarily reported to the military unit in North Ossetia.

During the court hearing, Bizhoev fully admitted his guilt in committing the crimes and expressed regret for his actions. For the totality of the crimes, he was sentenced to six years of imprisonment in a general regime correctional colony.

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 about its completion, but no corresponding decree followed. Lawyers concluded that a presidential decree is not needed to complete partial mobilization, the press secretary of Putin explained.

At the same time, on December 12, 2023, the military court in Maykop emphasized in the verdict against a mobilized individual who left the unit in June 2023 that "partial mobilization has been declared in the Russian Federation, which at the time of the crime was not completed".