Russia puts 72-year-old US man on trial as Ukraine mercenary

MOSCOW: A Moscow court on Friday began the trial of a 72-year-old American man accused of fighting as a mercenary in Ukraine, Russian news agencies reported.
Moscow City Court is hearing a criminal case against the American “over participating as a mercenary in the armed conflict on the side of Ukraine,” RIA Novosti news agency said.
It identified the man as Stefan Hubbard but said his name could be spelled differently, with social media posts suggesting the name could be Stephen Hubbard.
“We are aware of the reports of the arrest of an American citizen. Due to privacy restrictions we are unable to comment any further,” the US embassy in Moscow said in a statement.
The pensioner from Michigan moved to Ukraine in 2014, RIA Novosti said. Reports did not make clear when or how Hubbard arrived in Moscow.
At the hearing at Moscow’s highest city court, a judge agreed to the prosecutor’s request to detain Hubbard for six months on the grounds that he could try to flee, remanding him in custody until March 26, 2025.
The next hearing was set for next Thursday.
Participating as a mercenary in an armed conflict is punishable by up to 15 years in prison under Russian law.
A video posted on YouTube channels in May 2022 showed a man who gives his name as Stephen James Hubbard and said he was living in the city of Izyum in the Kharkiv region.
The man says he was born in Big Rapids, Michigan, and came to Izyum in 2014.
He looks dishevelled with a long beard and dirty nails.
Russia occupied part of the Kharkiv region including Izyum in March 2022 shortly after launching its February 24 offensive, and Ukraine retook Izyum in September 2022.
The American signed a contract with a Ukrainian territorial defense battalion the day after Russian forces entered Ukraine, the prosecutor said in court, RIA Novosti reported.
In this role, he was paid “at least $1,000 a month,” underwent training, received a uniform and weapons and “took part in the armed conflict,” the prosecutor said.
He was detained by a Russian soldier on April 2, 2022, she added without giving details.
Russia has arrested several US citizens in recent years on charges ranging from espionage and criticizing the Russian army to petty theft and family disputes.