According to information received from American authorities, the citizen of Kyrgyzstan was detained in 2025, and on January 22, 2026, the court issued a guilty verdict, imposing a prison sentence.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kyrgyz Republic reported that immediately after the detention, contact was established with the citizen through diplomatic missions, and he was provided with the necessary consular assistance. The agency noted that regular communication with him was maintained, and consultations were held to protect his rights in accordance with international norms and U.S. legislation.
Despite this, the citizen's name and specific charges were not disclosed. However, earlier some sources mentioned that a Kyrgyzstani named Sergey Zharnovnikov was sentenced in the U.S. to three years.
According to data from the U.S. Department of Justice, Sergey Zharnovnikov was involved in the illegal export of American weapons to Russia through Kyrgyzstan, amounting to over $1.5 million. The case materials indicate that since March 2020, he had been smuggling weapons and ammunition through his company registered in Bishkek.
It is reported that the man arrived in the U.S. from Kyrgyzstan in January 2025 with his wife and was soon detained at a weapons exhibition. According to some reports, he did not have the right to permanent residency in the U.S., and after serving his sentence, he will be deported back to his homeland.
Sergey Zharnovnikov's name had previously been mentioned in the media in connection with his ownership of a gun shop in Bishkek.
