Russia says it freed American Stephen Hubbard, 74, as Trump envoy meets with Putin
The release follows months of U.S. pressure, and Russian officials said Hubbard was already at Pulkovo Airport after the announcement.
- On Tuesday, Russia released Stephen Hubbard following a visit to Petersburg by Steve Witkoff. The State Department previously designated Hubbard as wrongfully detained.
- Russian prosecutors alleged that Hubbard fought for Ukraine after moving to Izyum in 2014. His sister, Patricia Hubbard Fox, maintained the accusation was a lie.
- President Donald Trump stated on Tuesday that he raised the case with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Putin agreed to the release during discussions with Witkoff in Petersburg.
- Hubbard, originally from Michigan, spent decades abroad as an English teacher before being captured by Russian forces. He was sentenced to almost seven years in a penal colony in 2024.
- Hubbard is the latest American freed from Russian detention following Robert Gilman's August release. Gilman was freed for humanitarian reasons amid severe health concerns.
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270 Articles
Russia frees retired US schoolteacher Stephen Hubbard as Putin meets Witkoff
Stephen Hubbard, a 74-year-old retired US schoolteacher in Russian custody since 2022, was freed from prison on Wednesday and taken to St Petersburg’s Pulkovo airport, President Vladimir Putin said. The Kremlin chief made the announcement at a meeting with US envoy Steve Witkoff in St Petersburg, without giving more details. “The president sends his thanks, […]
Russia Unilaterally Releases American Jailed for 4 Years
Russia has released a retired American teacher who had been imprisoned on charges of fighting as a mercenary in Ukraine, US sends Steve Witkoff Said Wednesday at a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in St. Petersburg. The deal comes at a time when President Trump has taken actions to...
Stephen Hubbard, a 74-year-old professor from Michigan, was sentenced after a closed trial in 2024 to nearly seven years in prison.
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