Moscow: A Russian court has sentenced a 72-year-old American to nearly seven years in prison. The American man was fighting in Ukraine as a mercenary. Prosecutors said US citizen Stephen Hubbard signed a contract with the Ukrainian military after Russia sent troops to Ukraine in February 2022 and fought alongside them until he was captured two months later. Hubbard has now been sentenced to six years and 10 months in a normal security prison. The prosecution had sought a sentence of seven years in a maximum security prison.
Know what was America’s stance.
Hubbard, a native of Michigan, is the first American to be convicted of fighting as a mercenary in the Ukrainian conflict. US State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said he had limited information about the case because Russia has refused embassy assistance. “We are disappointed, as we often are when they refuse embassy assistance. They must provide that assistance and we will continue to press for that. We are watching this case very closely and considering our next steps,” Miller told reporters in Washington.
Also, know this
The charges against Stephen Hubbard could carry a maximum sentence of 15 years, according to Russian news reports, but prosecutors said his age and the severity of his crime should be taken into account.