Russian Court Sentences Two American Citizens to Nearly 7 Years in Prison

A Russian court on Monday sentenced 72-year-old American citizen Stephen James Hubbard to six years and 10 months in prison after convicting him of allegedly serving as a mercenary for Ukraine in a closed-door trial, stated Reuters citing a reporter present in the courtroom. Another American citizen, 30-year-old ex-Marine Robert Gilman, was sentenced to seven years and one month in prison for assaulting a prison official and a state investigator.

Investigators stated that Hubbard, a Michigan native, was reportedly paid $1,000 per month to serve in a Ukrainian territorial defense unit in Izyum, where he allegedly had been residing since 2014.

There is no evidence or confirmation that he was affiliated to Ukraine’s territorial defense forces. The Ukrainian Foreign Affairs Ministry has not confirmed or commented the allegations.

The RIA state news agency reported that Hubbard was detained by Russian soldiers on April 2, 2022, shortly after Moscow launched the full scale invasion of Ukraine. While Russian state media claimed he pleaded guilty to the charges, Hubbard’s sister and another relative expressed skepticism about this confession, stating in interviews that he held pro-Russian views and was unlikely to take up arms at his age.

Reuters was unable to confirm the circumstances of Hubbard's detention, and attempts to reach his lawyer were unsuccessful. The US Embassy in Moscow acknowledged awareness of the detention of an American citizen but declined further comment.

Robert Gilman was convicted in October 2022, now serving a 3.5-year sentence for attacking a police officer while drunk.

He reportedly told the court last week that he was compelled to use violence after a prison inspector caused him pain and an investigator insulted his father.

RIA reported that Gilman, who had traveled to Russia to study and seek citizenship, pleaded guilty to all charges.

Reuters was unable to reach a lawyer for Gilman at this time. The US Embassy in Moscow has not yet responded to a request for comment, reports Reuters.

Hubbard and Gilman are among at least 10 Americans currently imprisoned in Russia.