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Moscow: A Russian court has sentenced a 72-year-old American to nearly seven years in prison. The American man was fighting as a mercenary in Ukraine. Prosecutors said US citizen Stephen Hubbard signed a contract with the Ukrainian military after Russia sent troops to Ukraine in February 2022 and fought alongside them until he was captured two months later. Now Hubbard has been sentenced to six years and 10 months in a normal security prison. The prosecution had sought a sentence of seven years in a maximum security prison.
Know what was America’s stand
Hubbard, a resident of Michigan state, is the first American to be convicted of fighting as a mercenary in the Ukrainian conflict. US State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said he had limited information about the case, as Russia has refused to help the embassy. “We are disappointed, as we often are, when they refuse embassy assistance. They have an obligation to provide that assistance and we will continue to press for that. We are watching the case very closely and considering our next steps,” Miller told reporters in Washington.
The charges against Stephen Hubbard could lead to a 15-year sentence, but prosecutors said his age should be taken into account along with his crime, Russian news reports said.
