American Teacher Sentenced in Russia for Alleged Ukraine Involvement
A 72-year-old American, Stephen Hubbard, has been sentenced to nearly 7 years in a Russian prison for alleged mercenary activities in Ukraine. The case adds to the list of U.S. citizens currently detained in Russia.
In a recent development, Stephen Hubbard, a 72-year-old American citizen, has been sentenced to 6 years and 10 months in a Russian prison. The verdict, delivered by a Russian court, stems from accusations of Hubbard's involvement as a mercenary for Ukraine during the ongoing conflict.
According to reports from RIA Novosti, a state-owned Russian news agency founded in 1941, Hubbard entered a guilty plea to the charges last week. The prosecution alleges that Hubbard was part of a territorial defense unit in Izyum, a city in Kharkiv Oblast, Ukraine, with a pre-war population of about 45,000. These units gained prominence in Ukraine following the 2014 annexation of Crimea by Russia.
Hubbard's capture by Russian forces reportedly occurred in April 2022, shortly after Moscow initiated its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. It's worth noting that Izyum was under Russian occupation from April to September 2022. The circumstances of Hubbard's transfer to Russia remain unclear.
Patricia Fox, Hubbard's sister, has expressed skepticism about her brother's confession. In her last communication with Hubbard in 2021, she described him as "more of a pacifist." This characterization contrasts sharply with the allegations of mercenary activities, which are illegal under international law as per the UN Mercenary Convention of 2001.
Hubbard's background reveals a career as an English teacher spanning several decades and countries. Originally from Big Rapids, Michigan, a city of about 10,000 residents, Hubbard had worked in Japan and Cyprus before settling in Ukraine in 2014. The global English as a foreign language (EFL) teaching industry, worth billions of dollars annually, has long attracted Americans to work abroad.
The case adds to the growing list of U.S. citizens currently in Russian custody. Despite a recent high-profile prisoner exchange that saw the release of Wall Street Journal correspondent Evan Gershkovich and former U.S. Marine Paul Whelan, at least 10 Americans remain detained in Russia. Gershkovich's arrest marked the first time an American journalist had been detained on espionage charges in Russia since the Cold War.
This situation underscores the complex diplomatic challenges between the U.S. and Russia. The U.S. Embassy in Moscow continues to provide consular services to American citizens in Russia, operating under a bilateral consular convention that governs access to detained citizens. However, the U.S. State Department currently maintains a Level 4: Do Not Travel advisory for Russia, highlighting the risks for American citizens.
As the international community watches this case unfold, it serves as a reminder of the ongoing tensions between Russia and the West, particularly in the context of the Ukraine conflict. The definition of "mercenary" under the Geneva Conventions and the complexities of the Russian legal system, which blends civil law principles with elements of Soviet law, add layers of intricacy to Hubbard's case.
"He is more of a pacifist."
This case highlights the critical role of the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Consular Affairs in assisting Americans arrested abroad and the challenges faced in navigating international legal systems during times of geopolitical tension.
