A Russian court has sentenced a 72-year-old American man to prison after a secret trial
Served in Territorial Defense Unit
Stephen James Hubbard has been sentenced to six years and ten months in prison, following a secret trial where he was accused of serving as a mercenary for Ukraine.
According to reports from Ziare, Hubbard, a Michigan native, was allegedly earning $1,000 per month while serving in a Ukrainian territorial defense unit in Izyum, where he had lived since 2014.
Investigators claim Hubbard received training, weapons, and ammunition after enlisting in February 2022, coinciding with Russia's military escalation in Ukraine.
Family Sceptic about Admission of Guilt
He was captured by Russian forces on April 2 of that year. State media in Russia reported that Hubbard pleaded guilty to the charges against him. However, doubts have arisen regarding this confession.
Hubbard's sister, Patricia Hubbard Fox, and another relative expressed skepticism about his admission, emphasizing his pro-Russian views and suggesting that it is unlikely he would take up arms at his age.
During the trial, Hubbard appeared in a beige sweater, handcuffed and standing in a glass enclosure.
He struggled to rise as the Moscow court judge announced his conviction, removing his hat to reveal a shaved head. After hearing the verdict, Hubbard consulted with his attorney, who later declined to comment to the press.
According to the Russian news agency RIA, Hubbard's lawyer plans to appeal the court's decision.
