Russian prosecutors have requested a seven-year sentence in the trial of a U.S. citizen accused of fighting as a mercenary in Ukraine against Russia, according to reports from Russian news agencies on Saturday.
The prosecutors have taken into consideration 72-year-old Stephen Hubbard’s age and his admission of guilt, as reported by Interfax. They are seeking for Hubbard to serve his sentence in a maximum-security penal colony.
In Russia, engaging in mercenary activities is a criminal offense that carries a punishment of 7-15 years of imprisonment.
The prosecutors allege that Hubbard signed a contract with the Ukrainian military after Russia deployed troops into Ukraine in February 2022, with the promise of receiving at least $1,000. He reportedly underwent training, was provided with a personal firearm, and fought for the Ukrainian military as a mercenary until his detainment by the Russian military in April 2022.
The U.S. Embassy in Moscow has acknowledged the reports of the arrest of an American citizen but refrained from further comments citing privacy restrictions.
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Russian courts have a conviction rate of over 99% and prosecutors have the ability to appeal sentences they deem too lenient.
Arrests of Americans in Russia have been on the rise in recent years, leading to concerns that U.S. nationals may be targeted for arrests as potential bargaining chips in negotiations to repatriate Russians convicted of crimes in the U.S. and Europe.
In August, the United States and Russia conducted their largest prisoner swap since the Soviet era, involving 24 individuals and requiring extensive negotiations and concessions from European countries who released Russian prisoners in their custody as part of the exchange. Despite the swap, several U.S. citizens remain incarcerated in Russia.
