Stephen Hubbard, a U.S. citizen accused of combating as a Ukrainian mercenary in opposition to Russia in the middle of a army battle, is seen inside a precinct for defendants as he attends a courtroom listening to in Moscow, Russia, on October 7, 2024. , on this nonetheless picture. taken from the video. | Picture credit score: REUTERS
A Russian courtroom on Monday (October 7, 2024) sentenced a 72-year-old American in a closed-door trial to just about seven years in jail for allegedly combating as a mercenary in Ukraine.
Prosecutors mentioned Stephen Hubbard signed a contract with the Ukrainian army after Russia despatched troops to Ukraine in February 2022 and fought alongside them till he was captured two months later.
He was sentenced to 6 years and ten months usually safety jail. Prosecutors had requested for a sentence of seven years in a most safety jail.
Mr. Hubbard, from the state of Michigan, is the primary recognized American to be convicted of combating as a mercenary within the Ukrainian battle.
The costs carried a doable sentence of 15 years, however prosecutors requested that his age be taken into consideration alongside along with his act of contrition, Russian information studies mentioned.
Arrests of Individuals have change into more and more frequent in Russia lately. Issues have grown that Russia could also be arresting Americans to later use as bargaining chips in talks to deliver again Russians convicted of crimes in the US and Europe.
Additionally on Monday, a courtroom within the metropolis of Voronezh sentenced American Robert Gilman to seven years and one month in jail for allegedly assaulting legislation enforcement officers whereas serving time for one more assault.
In accordance with Russian information studies, Gilman was arrested in 2022 for drunkenly inflicting a disturbance on a passenger prepare after which assaulting a police officer whereas in custody. He’s serving a three-and-a-half-year sentence for that cost.
Final yr, he assaulted a jail inspector throughout a cell examine after which punched an Investigative Committee official, resulting in a brand new sentence, state information company RIA-Novosti mentioned.
In August, the US and Russia accomplished their largest prisoner alternate in post-Soviet historical past, a deal that concerned 24 individuals, many months of negotiations and concessions from different European international locations, which launched Russians of their custody as a part of the alternate. A number of Americans stay behind bars in Russia following the alternate.
Revealed – October 8, 2024 04:09 am IST
