Kyrgyz Citizen Alisher Tursunov Among Prisoners of War Returned to Russia in Ukraine Swap
The Ukraine-Central Asia Telegram channel reported on July 19 that Kyrgyz citizen Alisher Tursunov was one of the soldiers returned to Russia as part of a prisoner of war exchange with Ukraine. Tursunov's case gained attention when a video of him in Ukrainian custody surfaced in late May. In the video, the 57-year-old Tursunov claimed he was coerced by Russian authorities in Ryazan to join the military for the invasion of Ukraine, promising him money and Russian citizenship in return. Subsequently, Tursunov pleaded for assistance from the Kyrgyz government to facilitate his return home. It is worth noting that under Kyrgyz law, engaging in combat in a foreign country for any faction other than Kyrgyzstan is deemed a criminal offense. Recent incidents involving Kyrgyz individuals participating in the Ukraine conflict have drawn scrutiny. For instance, another unnamed Kyrgyz individual was sentenced to five years in prison for joining Russian troops in Ukraine; meanwhile, Beknazar Boruguluulu, who previously served five years in prison for joining Russia's Wagner mercenary group, saw his release due to a presidential amnesty decree in January. Despite a court's imposition of a suspended seven-year prison sentence on Askar Kubanychbekuulu for involvement in the Russian military's operations in Ukraine, he managed to abscond to Russia and enter into a new agreement with the Defense Ministry. Notably, Kyrgyz authorities have confirmed the deaths of at least 10 Kyrgyz nationals in the conflict in Ukraine. Following Russia's announcement of a partial mobilization in September 2022, Kyrgyz officials cautioned migrant workers in Russia against participating in the conflict, stressing that involvement in either side's military activities constitutes mercenary work and is punishable by up to 15 years of imprisonment in the former Soviet republic. The precise count of Kyrgyz nationals engaged in the conflict remains undisclosed.
Related Sources: