Key takeaways:
- Russian state media reported that Hubbard was taken to St. Petersburg’s Pulkovo Airport; Witkoff confirmed his release, according to The Associated Press.
- Hubbard was sentenced in 2024 to almost seven years in a penal colony; his family maintains his innocence.
- Hubbard was the last American in Russia formally classified by the State Department as wrongfully detained, CBS News reported.
Russia has released Stephen Hubbard, an American imprisoned after being accused of fighting for Ukraine, during a visit by U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff to St. Petersburg, Russian state media reported Wednesday. Witkoff confirmed the release, according to The Associated Press, as cited by CBS News.
President Vladimir Putin said Hubbard had been taken to St. Petersburg’s Pulkovo Airport, Russian state media reported. The same reports said Witkoff thanked Putin for freeing him during their meeting Wednesday. It was not immediately clear whether the United States had agreed to anything in exchange.
Hubbard, a Michigan native, had been held for more than four years. He was the last American in Russia whom the U.S. State Department had formally declared wrongfully detained, CBS News reported. As many as 10 other Americans, including dual nationals, remain in Russian custody, according to CBS News.
Hubbard was captured in Ukraine shortly after Russia launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022. Russian prosecutors accused him of serving in a defense unit in the eastern city of Izyum, the BBC reported. CBS News said Russian authorities accused him of manning a checkpoint for mercenaries. He was sentenced in 2024 to almost seven years in a penal colony. Hubbard’s family has maintained his innocence and had little contact with him during his detention, CBS News reported.
President Donald Trump said Tuesday that he had repeatedly asked Putin to release Hubbard. “I’ve been talking to President Putin about Mr. Hubbard. I’ve been talking to him at length. I’ve asked him to release him,” Trump told reporters. “It’s time to have Mr. Hubbard back.” The BBC reported that Trump also told reporters, “Watch what happens,” and said his administration had been focused on Hubbard.
Witkoff and other Trump administration officials were in St. Petersburg for talks with Putin and senior Russian officials expected to focus on the war in Ukraine while also covering other matters, CBS News reported. Hubbard, 74, is in poor health and was expected to be flown to Texas for treatment at a military hospital, according to CBS News.
His release follows those of several other Americans held by Russia. CBS News reported that Robert Gilman was freed in August after his health deteriorated to a life-threatening condition and that American teacher Marc Fogel was released early last year. Journalist Evan Gershkovich and Marine veteran Paul Whelan were among those freed in a multinational prisoner swap in 2024.
The State Department continues to advise Americans not to travel to Russia, warning of the risk of wrongful detention, arbitrary enforcement of local laws and limited U.S. consular assistance.
Be First to Comment