Russia releases US citizen Stephen Hubbard after over four years in detention
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Russia has released US citizen Stephen Hubbard after more than four years in detention, according to Russian state media reports on Wednesday. The release followed a meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and US special envoy Steve Witkoff in St. Petersburg. US President Donald Trump had requested Putin free the detained American. Hubbard, a retired teacher, was sentenced in Moscow in October 2024 to nearly seven years in prison on charges of allegedly serving as a mercenary for Ukraine. His detention had initially been kept secret after Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, and he was brought to trial after more than two years in custody. Russian investigators claimed the former teacher joined a Ukrainian defense battalion and received at least $1,000 per month in salary, allegations he denied. At the time of his sentencing, Hubbard was 72 years old. A former Ukrainian fellow prisoner reported in autumn 2024 that Hubbard, like many other detainees, was tortured with food deprivation and electric shocks.
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Kremlin chief Vladimir Putin speaks with US special envoy Steve Witkoff in St. Petersburg. At the same time, the release of a US citizen imprisoned in Russia is announced.
After more than four years in detention in Russia, US citizen Stephen Hubbard has been released. Russian state media reported this on Wednesday. Russian President Vladimir Putin had previously received US special envoy Steve Witkoff for talks in St. Petersburg.
US President Donald Trump had asked Putin to release the US citizen, who had been imprisoned for years. The retired teacher was sentenced in Moscow in October 2024 to nearly seven years in prison for alleged "mercenary" activity on behalf of Ukraine.
Hubbard's detention by Russia had initially been kept secret following the large-scale attack on Ukraine in February 2022. After more than two years in custody, he was then brought to trial. Russian investigators claimed the former teacher had joined a Ukrainian defense battalion and received "at least one thousand dollars" per month in pay for doing so. He himself denied the allegations.
US citizen Stephen Hubbard before a court in Moscow, 2024. Source: MOSCOW CITY COURT/via REUTERS
At the time of his sentencing, Hubbard was 72 years old. A former Ukrainian fellow prisoner reported in the fall of 2024 that the US citizen, like many other detainees, had been tortured with food deprivation and electric shocks.
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Russia Frees American Stephen Hubbard as Putin Meets Witkoff for Ukraine Talks