A Russian courtroom has sentenced a 72-year-old American citizen to almost seven years in jail for allegedly serving as a Ukrainian mercenary.
Prosecutors say Stephen James Hubbard was serving with a protection unit within the jap metropolis of Izyum when he was captured by Russian forces in April 2022, shortly after Moscow launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
A press release from Russia’s prosecutor common mentioned Hubbard “systematically obtained materials compensation” for his participation within the struggle in Ukraine.
He has now been sentenced to 6 years and ten months in a penal colony.
Hubbard, a Michigan native, pleaded responsible to the costs final week, in accordance with Russian state media.
Nevertheless, his sister Patricia Fox informed Reuters Hubbard held pro-Russian views and was unlikely to take up arms at his age.
“He was so demilitarized,” Ms. Fox informed Reuters, including that her brother “by no means had a gun, owned a gun, did something… He was extra of a pacifist.”
In accordance with Ms. Fox, Hubbard moved to Ukraine in 2014 and lived there for a time with a girl, surviving on a meager pension. He and his accomplice later broke up, however he continued to dwell in Ukraine.
Though Hubbard was detained by Russian forces in early 2022, his case was not made public till the trial started in Moscow in September.
In a video shared by Russian authorities, Hubbard may be seen struggling to stroll contained in the defendant’s glass case within the courtroom the place he was sentenced on Monday.
The jap Ukrainian metropolis of Izyum, the place Hubbard was detained, was occupied by Russia shortly after Russia invaded Ukraine. It turned out to be Liberated by Ukrainian troops Fall 2022.
In a separate case, on Monday, former U.S. Marine Robert Gilman Already serving sentence in Russia for assault, Jailed for seven years and one month for assaulting a jail officer.
Not less than 10 U.S. residents are at present imprisoned in Russia. one Large numbers of Americans released in prisoner swap August between Moscow and the West.
