Stephen Hubbard mercenary charges/ U.S. citizen trial in Russia/ American accused of fighting for Ukraine/ Russian prosecutors 7-year sentence/ Russia Ukraine conflict/ Newslooks/ MOSCOW/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Russian prosecutors are seeking a seven-year sentence for 72-year-old U.S. citizen Stephen Hubbard, who is accused of fighting for Ukraine as a mercenary. Hubbard, who reportedly admitted guilt, allegedly joined the Ukrainian military after Russia’s 2022 invasion. The U.S. Embassy in Moscow is aware of the case but has not commented further.
Russian Prosecutors Seek Sentence for U.S. Man in Ukraine Quick Looks
- Charges against Hubbard: Stephen Hubbard, a 72-year-old American, is accused of fighting as a mercenary for Ukraine against Russia.
- Prosecutors’ request: Russian prosecutors are asking for a seven-year sentence in a maximum-security penal colony.
- Alleged activities: Hubbard is accused of joining the Ukrainian military, undergoing training, and fighting until he was captured in April 2022.
- U.S. Embassy response: The U.S. Embassy in Moscow acknowledged Hubbard’s case but declined to comment further due to privacy concerns.
U.S. Citizen Faces 7-Year Prison Sentence in Russia for Fighting for Ukraine
Deep Look
Russian prosecutors are seeking a seven-year prison sentence for Stephen Hubbard, a 72-year-old U.S. citizen accused of serving as a mercenary in Ukraine. According to reports from Russian news agency Interfax, prosecutors are asking the court to take Hubbard’s age into account when sentencing him. They recommended that Hubbard serve his term in a maximum-security penal colony.
Hubbard, who is alleged to have joined Ukrainian forces following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, has reportedly admitted guilt. Russian authorities accuse him of signing a contract with the Ukrainian military, for which he was allegedly promised at least $1,000. Prosecutors claim he underwent training, received a personal firearm, and fought in Ukraine until he was captured by Russian troops in April 2022.
In Russia, participating in mercenary activities is a criminal offense punishable by 7 to 15 years in prison. While the trial is ongoing, Russian courts are notorious for their high conviction rates, with more than 99% of defendants found guilty.
The U.S. Embassy in Moscow confirmed that it is aware of Hubbard’s case but declined to comment further due to privacy restrictions. This arrest is part of a broader trend of American citizens being detained in Russia. Such arrests have raised concerns that Russia is increasingly targeting U.S. nationals to use as bargaining chips in negotiations for the release of Russians held abroad.
In August, the U.S. and Russia completed their largest post-Soviet prisoner swap, involving 24 individuals and requiring concessions from European nations that also released Russians in their custody. Despite this high-profile exchange, several U.S. citizens remain imprisoned in Russia, and the arrest of Americans continues to fuel speculation that Russia is using these detentions to leverage diplomatic negotiations.
As the situation between the U.S. and Russia remains tense, Hubbard’s case highlights the delicate nature of such cases and the continued risks facing American citizens in Russia.
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