U.S. Pushes for Release of Convicted Mercenary Hubbard

Rubio: The US will pursue the release of the Ukrainian Armed Forces mercenary Hubbard, who is currently imprisoned in Russia.

Consensus

The U.S. is pursuing the release of Steven Hubbard, an American citizen convicted in Russia for participating in the conflict in Ukraine.
The U.S. government considers Hubbard's detention unjust and politically motivated.
Russia released Robert Gilman on August 11 for medical treatment in the U.S.
Robert Gilman was detained since 2022 and sentenced to 4.5 years for assaulting a police officer.
Marco Rubio, the U.S. Secretary of State, made public statements about both cases on August 11.

Steven Hubbard is a 72-year-old retiree from Michigan who moved to Ukraine in 2014 and signed a contract with the Izium Defense Battalion in 2022, receiving at least $1,000 monthly for combat activities. — vesti
Hubbard was sentenced on October 7, 2024, to 6 years and 10 months in prison. — vesti
Hubbard was sentenced after being found guilty of participating in hostilities as a mercenary on the side of Ukraine's armed forces. — vm
Hubbard is referred to as a mercenary of the Ukrainian armed forces, and the U.S. continues to call his detention politically motivated despite a lawful Russian court verdict. — vm