Russia says it freed American Stephen Hubbard, 74, as Trump envoy meets with Putin
Putin said Hubbard was already at the airport as the Trump administration pressed Russia for the release of other detained Americans.
- 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.
385 Articles
385 Articles
Michigan Man Freed After Years in Russian Prison
A Michigan man who spent more than four years imprisoned in Russia is headed home after Russian officials announced the release of 74-year-old Stephen Hubbard. Hubbard, a retired teacher who was designated by the U.S. government as wrongfully detained, had been convicted by a Russian court on charges related to the war in Ukraine. The release came during talks between Russian President Vladimir Putin and U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff in St. Petersbur…
<p>Putin released American teacher Stephen Hubbard after meeting with Whitkoff - Trump Stephen Hubbard, imprisoned in Russia since 2022, is heading to the United States. Trump said he was fired without exchange or demands.</p>
US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in St. Petersburg. The meeting, which lasted more than three hours, discussed ending the war in Ukraine.
Trump asks Putin to free jailed US citizen, Russia releases him ahead of envoy visit
Russia freed detained American teacher Stephen Hubbard after Donald Trump appealed directly to Vladimir Putin. The humanitarian release coincided with Steve Witkoff's push to revive talks on ending the Ukraine war.
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