The Moscow City Court has sentenced Stephen Hubbard, a 72-year-old U.S. citizen, to six years and 10 months in prison after convicting him of acting as a mercenary for the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) against Russian military forces. According to Interfax, Hubbard’s conviction was based on charges under Russian laws relating to mercenary activities.
The trial was conducted behind closed doors, a common practice for high-profile cases in Russia. The Russian prosecutor had initially sought a seven-year sentence. Hubbard’s sister, Patricia Hubbard Fox, expressed skepticism to Reuters about the realities of her brother’s involvement, questioning both his physical capability to fight due to his age and a reported confession of guilt appearing in Russian media.
Matthew Miller, a U.S. Department of State spokesperson, revealed during a press briefing that Russia has denied consular access to Hubbard, complicating the U.S. understanding of his situation. Miller noted that Hubbard was 72 and had been detained for two years, adding that his initial arrest occurred in Ukraine rather than Russia.
This case comes in the broader context of strained U.S.-Russia relations and follows a recent prisoner swap that involved high-profile exchanges, such as Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich and Russian opposition leader Ilya Yashin. The U.S. has frequently criticized Russia for using detained American citizens in political maneuvers, calling them “bargaining chips” as per a statement from the U.S. Embassy in Russia.
In response to the August prisoner exchange, President Joe Biden stated his commitment to bringing detained Americans home, terming it a top priority. Meanwhile, the State Department continues to advocate for consular access to Hubbard, though it’s unclear if his legal team will seek an appeal of the recent sentencing.