A Russian court has sentenced 72-year-old U.S. citizen Stephen Hubbard to nearly seven years in prison for allegedly fighting as a mercenary on behalf of Ukraine. The decision comes amidst a backdrop of increased detentions of U.S. citizens and a series of high-profile prisoner exchanges involving individuals such as Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich and Irish citizen Paul Whelan.
The sentencing took place in Moscow City Court, where Judge Alexandra Kovalevskaya imposed a term of six years and ten months on Hubbard, who appeared in court dressed in a knitted jacket and dark trousers. The court’s proceedings were largely held behind closed doors, a decision made at the request of prosecutors. Hubbard was convicted of “participating as a mercenary in the armed conflict” after a brief trial, which only gained public attention when it began on September 27.
Hubbard has been in custody since April 2, 2022, and under Russian law, each day spent in pre-trial detention counts as one-and-a-half days towards his sentence. This means that he has effectively already served over three-and-a-half years of his term. His lawyer indicated that an appeal against the sentence is likely.
Prosecutors alleged that Hubbard was paid at least $1,000 per month to join a Ukrainian territorial defense unit. They claimed he underwent training, received a combat uniform, and participated in the armed conflict in Ukraine. Reports suggest that Hubbard had been living in the northeastern Ukrainian city of Izyum since 2014, which fell under Russian control shortly after the invasion began in February 2022. He reportedly stated in a video posted by pro-Russian YouTube channels that he was originally from Big Rapids, Michigan.
In a related case, another American, Robert Gilman, was sentenced to seven years and one month in a strict-regime penal colony for violence against prison staff while already serving a sentence for attacking a policeman. His history included multiple assaults on prison personnel.
Russia has arrested numerous Westerners in recent years on various charges, including espionage and minor offenses, many linked to its ongoing conflict in Ukraine. One notable case involves Ksenia Karelina, a dual U.S.-Russian citizen sentenced to 12 years for donating a small sum to a Ukrainian organization.
This latest sentencing underscores the escalating tensions between Russia and the West, as both sides navigate a complex landscape of legal and diplomatic challenges amid the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
