Russian prosecutors seek 7-year sentence for US man accused of fighting for Ukraine

MOSCOW — Russian prosecutors have sought a seven-year prison sentence in the trial of a US citizen accused of fighting against Russia as a mercenary in Ukraine, Russian news agencies reported on Saturday.

Prosecutors asked the court to take into account 72-year-old Stephen Hubbard’s age and said he has admitted guilt, according to Interfax. They asked Hubbard to serve his sentence in a high-security penal colony.

In Russia, participation in mercenary activities is a criminal offense punishable by a prison sentence of seven to fifteen years.

Prosecutors accuse Hubbard of signing a contract with the Ukrainian military after Russia sent troops to Ukraine in February 2022, for which he reportedly received at least $1,000.

He reportedly underwent training, received a personal firearm and fought as a mercenary in the Ukrainian army until April 2022, when he was detained by the Russian military.

The U.S. Embassy in Moscow told The Associated Press that it was “aware of reports of the arrest of a U.S. citizen” but said it could not comment further “due to privacy restrictions.”

Russian courts convict more than 99% of defendants, and prosecutors can appeal sentences they consider too lenient.

Arrests of Americans have become increasingly common in Russia in recent years. Concerns have arisen that Russia could arrest US nationals, to later use as a bargaining chip in talks to bring back Russians convicted of crimes in the US and Europe.

The US and Russia in August completed their largest prisoner exchange in post-Soviet history: a deal involving 24 people, many months of negotiations, and concessions from other European countries that released Russians in their custody as part of the exchange. Several American citizens remain behind bars in Russia after the exchange.