A Moscow court has opened a criminal case against a 72- year-old American accused of being a mercenary in support of Ukraine, Russian state news agency RIA Novosti reported on Friday. The man, identified as Stephen James Hubbard, has been detained in pre-trial detention for six months, Reuters reports, as quoted by News.bg.
It is not clear when or where Hubbard was arrested. Reuters was not immediately able to reach his lawyer, and the U.S. Embassy in Russia and the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Charges of being a mercenary in Russia are punishable by between 7 and 15 years in prison. According to RIA, Hubbard, a native of Michigan, moved to Ukraine in 2014 and lived there for a while with a local woman.
A woman identifying herself as Hubbard's sister said in a public Facebook group that her brother had “been kidnapped in Ukraine” almost three years ago. The next court hearing in the case is scheduled for October 3.
Exchange of prisoners and other affairs with Americans
In August of this year, Russia and the US, along with several other countries, conducted a large-scale prisoner exchange involving 24 people. Sixteen prisoners were released by Russia, including Russian opposition figures, while eight Russians returned home.
Among those who returned to Russia then was Vadim Krasikov – Russian convicted of killing Chechen dissident in Berlin in 2019.
Other Americans detained in Russia
Ksenia Karelina, a dual Russian and American citizen, was sentenced to 12 years in prison in August for treason. She was found guilty of donating more than $50 to an American organization supporting Ukraine. Karelina hopes to be released in a future prisoner exchange.
Mark Vogel, a teacher and former employee of the US Embassy in Moscow, is serving a 14-year sentence for drug smuggling. He was detained with marijuana at the Moscow airport in 2021.
Gordon Black, an American sergeant, was sentenced to three years and nine months in prison in Russia for stealing money from his Russian girlfriend and threatening to kill her.
Michael Travis Leake, a musician and former US Army paratrooper, was sentenced to 13 years in prison for drug smuggling.
Robert Romanov Woodland, an American adopted from Russia, was sentenced to 12.5 years in prison for trying to sell drugs.
Robert Gilman, a former Marine, is serving a 3.5-year sentence for assaulting a police officer.
Eugene Specter, a former businessman, was sentenced to 3.5 years in prison for bribery, and was subsequently charged with espionage.
David Barnes was jailed for 21 years on charges of abusing his sons, following a custody dispute with his Russian ex-wife. These allegations have already been investigated in the US, but no grounds for charges have been found.