According to data provided by American authorities, this citizen was detained by law enforcement agencies in 2025, and on January 22, 2026, the court found him guilty and imposed a prison sentence.
The Ministry reported that since the detention of the Kyrgyz citizen, consular institutions in the USA promptly established contact with him and provided the necessary legal support. The agency emphasized that there was ongoing interaction with the citizen, as well as consultations provided to protect his rights in accordance with international law and local legislation.
Although the Ministry does not specify his name and the nature of the charges, several media outlets previously reported that the Kyrgyz citizen Sergey Zharnovnikov was sentenced in the USA to three years.
According to the U.S. Department of Justice, Zharnovnikov was involved in illegal trade of American weapons, exporting them to Russia via Kyrgyzstan for over $1.5 million. According to case materials, since March 2020, he had been smuggling weapons and ammunition through his company registered in Bishkek.
It is reported that in January 2025, he arrived in the USA with his wife and was soon detained while attending a weapons exhibition. Preliminary data suggests that he did not have permanent residency rights in the United States, and after serving his sentence, he will be deported to Kyrgyzstan.
Sergey Zharnovnikov's name had previously been mentioned in connection with his ties to a weapons store in Bishkek.
