This article was originally published by Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty and is reprinted with permission.
A Moscow court will hand down its verdict and sentence on October 7 in the case of Stephen Hubbard, a 72-year-old U.S. citizen, who is accused of fighting against Russian forces in Ukraine.
Moscow City Court Judge Aleksandra Kovalevskaya announced the date after the October 3 session behind closed doors ended.
Hubbard, who has reportedly pleaded guilty to the charge and could face up to 15 years in prison, appeared in court walking slowly, wearing a black hat and beige jacket, according to an AFP journalist.
The trial’s closed nature follows a prosecution request, which the defense did not contest. U.S. Embassy officials and journalists were asked to leave the proceedings.
Russian prosecutors allege that Hubbard fought for Ukraine’s territorial defense in Izyum, signing a contract for $1,000 per month. He was detained by Russian forces on April 2, 2022.
The Russian state news agency RIA reported earlier this week that Hubbard pleaded guilty to the charges, which Hubbard’s family has cast doubt on.
They say he was pro-Russian and would not have taken up arms against the country.
His sister confirmed he had lived in Ukraine since 2014. The U.S. Embassy in Moscow has not commented on the case due to “privacy concerns.”
Hubbard’s trial has attracted attention due to worries over the targeting of U.S. citizens in Russia, with many questioning the validity of the charges.
His family, particularly his sister Patricia Fox, has expressed doubts about the accusations, stating that Hubbard had long been sympathetic to Russia and had moved to Ukraine in 2014.
Fox revealed that Hubbard had lived in the eastern Ukrainian town of Izyum after splitting with his Ukrainian girlfriend and was there when the war broke out. Fox also pointed to a video released in May 2022, in which Hubbard was seen commenting on the war.
In the video, he claimed to have witnessed Ukrainian forces shelling Izyum for “propaganda purposes,” and expressed understanding for Russian President Vladimir Putin’s decision to invade Ukraine.
It remains unclear under what circumstances the video was made, raising questions about whether Hubbard was coerced into making the statements.
Russian authorities have not provided details on Hubbard’s arrest or how he ended up in Moscow, and his previous pretrial restrictions remain undisclosed.
Hubbard’s trial follows a pattern of U.S. citizens being detained in Russia on what many see as politically motivated charges.
Moscow has been accused of using these arrests to leverage prisoner swaps with the United States and other Western countries.
At least 10 U.S. citizens, including Hubbard, remain behind bars in Russia after a prisoner swap on August 1 involving 16 people that Moscow agreed to free in exchange for eight Russians convicted of crimes and serving prison terms in the United States and Europe.
U.S. citizens, including RFE/RL journalist Alsu Kurmasheva, Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, and former U.S. Marine Paul Whelan, were released as part of the prisoner exchange.
The outcome of Hubbard’s trial will likely be closely watched by both the United States and Russia as the geopolitical tensions between the two countries continue to escalate.
