The proceedings were presided over by Judge Hector Gonzalez. The defendant was found guilty of illegally transporting firearms and ammunition from the U.S. to Russia via Kyrgyzstan, with a total value exceeding $1.5 million.
It should be noted that S.Zh. did not have permanent resident status in the U.S. and will be deported after serving his sentence.
According to the investigation, S.Zh. owned a firearms company in Bishkek. Starting in March 2020, he, along with accomplices, organized and carried out the export of firearms controlled by the U.S. Department of Commerce from America to Russia. In total, he exported firearms and ammunition worth over $1.5 million, including a five-year contract worth $900,000 with an American company for the supply of weapons to Kyrgyzstan. The export license specified that re-export to Russia was prohibited.
Nevertheless, he continued to export weapons, including semi-automatic rifle-pistols, from the U.S. to Russia via Kyrgyzstan.
In one transaction, S.Zh. re-exported five rifles through Kyrgyzstan, purchased from another American company. The export license for these rifles also prohibited their export outside of Kyrgyzstan. These rifles were used by Russian snipers, including in battles on Ukrainian territory.
Additionally, the defendant was involved in the illegal re-export of American ammunition through Italy to Kyrgyzstan and then to Russia. In collaboration with others, he ordered and received 13,000 rounds of ammunition worth $23,000 from a third American organization, which were delivered to Bishkek via Italy. However, the license stipulated that the ammunition must remain in Italy, and they were exported illegally. This ammunition was also used in the conflict between Russia and Ukraine.
It should be noted that S.Zh. was arrested on January 24, 2025, in Las Vegas, where he was attending the Shooting, Hunting and Outdoor Trade (SHOT) Show, meeting with American suppliers.
