The Barnaul garrison military court handed down a 6.5-year prison term in a strict regime colony to an individual accused of attempting to evade mobilization by fleeing to Kazakhstan. The sentence was reported by the telegraph channel of the military court press service.
The ruling was issued under charges of desertion and illegal border crossing. The case centers on Reserve Major Mikhail Zhilin, who is said to have sold property at the onset of mobilization and then crossed the border into Kazakhstan after bypassing the checkpoint. Before departing, he allegedly provided the command with false information regarding a supposed disability.
According to Kommersant, the man reportedly escaped to Kazakhstan while his wife and children took a separate route and managed to pass through an official checkpoint into the same country. Once beyond the border, Zhilin was detained by border guards. He reportedly sought asylum in Kazakhstan, a move that Kommersant notes was denied by Kazakh authorities.
Prior to the verdict, the individual held a position with the Federal Security Service. In a broader context, the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation has recently addressed cases of evasion from military service and related offenses, marking a notable moment in the national legal discourse on mobilization and security duties.
The case illustrates the complex weave of personal, legal, and security considerations that arise during mobilization periods in Russia, and it highlights how border procedures and asylum processes interact with charges of desertion and illegal border crossing. The narrative also reflects the social and familial dimensions that emerge when some service members attempt to flee, while others in their households pursue alternate routes across international borders. Observers note that the enforcement and penalties associated with such actions can have lasting implications for military discipline, border policy, and the handling of asylum requests in the region.