Russian prosecutors search 7-year sentence for US man accused of combating for Ukraine

Prosecutors requested the court docket to have in mind 72-year-old Stephen Hubbard’s age and stated he has admitted guilt, in response to Interfax. They requested that Hubbard serve the sentence in a maximum-security penal colony.

In Russia, taking part in mercenary actions is a felony offense punishable by imprisonment for a time period of 7-15 years.

Prosecutors accuse Hubbard of signing a contract with the Ukrainian army after Russia despatched troops into Ukraine in February 2022, for which he allegedly was to obtain no less than $1,000.

He reportedly underwent coaching, obtained a private firearm and fought within the Ukrainian army as a mercenary till April 2022, when he was detained by the Russian army.

The U.S. Embassy in Moscow informed The Associated Press it was “conscious of the studies of the arrest of an American citizen,” however stated it couldn’t remark any additional “as a result of privateness restrictions”.

Russian courts convict greater than 99% of defendants, and prosecutors can enchantment sentences that they regard as too lenient.

Arrests of Americans have develop into more and more frequent in Russia in recent times. Concern has risen that Russia could possibly be concentrating on U.S. nationals for arrest to later use as bargaining chips in talks to carry again Russians convicted of crimes within the U.S. and Europe.

The U.S. and Russia in August accomplished their largest prisoner swap in post-Soviet historical past, a deal involving 24 folks, many months of negotiations and concessions from different European international locations who launched Russians of their custody as a part of the change. Several U.S. residents stay behind bars in Russia following the swap.

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