CNN —
A Moscow court on Monday sentenced American national Stephen Hubbard, 72, to six years and 10 months in prison for fighting as a mercenary for Ukraine, Russian state media TASS reported.
Hubbard, a Michigan native, was accused of fighting Russia for financial compensation and pleaded guilty last month to mercenary charges, according to Russian state media RIA Novosti.
Russian prosecutors have alleged that Mr. Hubbard fought with the Ukrainian side in the major city of Ism after signing a contract worth about $1,000 a month, RIA previously reported. He was captured by the Russian military in April 2022.
“Yes, I agree with the charges," Hubbard told the Moscow City Court during prosecutorial arguments in September.
His trial and sentencing took place behind closed doors in a Moscow court.
Mr. Hubbard’s sister, Trisha Hubbard Fox, has previously said that Mr. Hubbard has pro-Russian views, which casts doubt on his confession, and said in an interview with Reuters, “He had a gun.” He has never owned a gun or done anything like that…He’s more of a pacifist.” ”
“Russian prosecutors are lying!!!” Steve was never a mercenary. He was an English teacher teaching English in a foreign country! ” his sister added in a Facebook post last month.
Earlier Monday, a Russian court sentenced another American, former Marine Robert Gilman, to seven years and one year in a high-security penal colony for assaulting a law enforcement officer, Russian state media RIA Novosti reported. He was sentenced to months in prison.
Gilman was sentenced to more than four years in prison for assaulting a police officer in October 2022 and is already serving time in a Russian prison, Reuters reported. His sentence was later reduced to three and a half years.
Gilman’s latest sentence in the Russian city of Voronezh relates to charges of assaulting prison staff and state investigators.
A spokesperson for the U.S. Embassy in Moscow told CNN that the embassy is aware of the detention of two Americans but declined further comment, citing privacy concerns.
This is a developing story and will be updated.
