Bogdan Frolov19:20, 05.10.24

Russian prosecutors accuse the American of “mercenary activity.”

In Russia, prosecutors have asked for a seven-year sentence in the trial of a U.S. citizen accused of “mercenary activity,” the Associated Press reports . Stephen Hubbard, 72, reportedly pleaded guilty, and was asked to serve time in a maximum-security prison colony. 

The media outlet claims, citing prosecutors’ charges, that Hubbard signed a contract with the Ukrainian Armed Forces after the start of a full-scale war, on February 24, 2022:

“For which he was supposed to receive no less than $1,000.”

Journalists note that in Russia, participation in “mercenary activities” is a criminal offense punishable by imprisonment for a term of 7 to 15 years. Hubbard, as they say, underwent training, received a personal firearm and fought in the Ukrainian armed forces until April 2022, when he was captured by Russian occupiers.

The U.S. Embassy in Moscow told The Associated Press it was “aware of reports of the arrest of a U.S. citizen” but could not comment “due to confidentiality restrictions.” Russian courts convict more than 99 percent of defendants, and prosecutors can appeal sentences they “consider too lenient,” the report said.

Arrests of Americans in Russia have increased in recent years, raising concerns that Russia may be deliberately arresting U.S. citizens to later use as bargaining chips in negotiations to repatriate Russians convicted of crimes in the U.S. and Europe, the media reports.

Prisoner exchange between Russia and the USA

UNIAN previously reported that  Trump congratulated Putin on the large-scale prisoner exchange. 

“We got our people back, but we made terrible, terrible deals. It’s nice to say we got them back, but haven’t we set a bad precedent?” he said.

In addition, after the prisoner exchange, Germany recommended that its citizens not travel to Russia .

“In our travel and security recommendations, we warn, among other things, of the risk of arbitrary arrests,” the German Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

(c)UNIAN 2024