An American citizen imprisoned in Russia has been freed and is currently returning to the United States. Stephen Hubbard, a 74-year-old former teacher originally from Michigan, was released without any prisoner exchange required, according to announcements made by Washington and Moscow.
Hubbard had been serving a nearly seven-year sentence in a Russian penal colony following a 2024 conviction. Russian prosecutors had accused him of participating in a local territorial defense unit in the eastern Ukrainian city of Izyum around the time Russian forces captured the area shortly after the 2022 invasion.
The release occurred following high-level diplomatic discussions in St Petersburg. Russian state media reported that Hubbard was transported to Pulkovo Airport while US envoy Steve Witkoff was meeting with Russian leadership at the Constantine Palace.
United States President Trump stated on social media that the freedom of the elderly American followed a direct appeal made to the Russian president the previous week. The US State Department had previously designated Hubbard as wrongfully detained, and officials noted that his health had deteriorated during his imprisonment. According to reports from media partners, Hubbard was expected to travel to Texas to receive medical evaluation and treatment.
During the St Petersburg talks, envoy Witkoff expressed appreciation for the release on behalf of the White House. He also conveyed gratitude for a recent agreement allowing the importation of Russian diesel fuel. Russian officials indicated that the initial shipments under this commercial arrangement would depart within days.
The energy agreement has recently created significant diplomatic friction involving Kyiv. Ukrainian leadership expressed strong displeasure over the arrangement, leading to a tense period in bilateral relations that included temporary disruptions in intelligence sharing regarding incoming attacks. However, discussions between Washington and Kyiv in Oslo subsequently restored information exchanges, according to Ukrainian officials.
During the meeting with Russian leadership, the US envoy pointed to the energy accord as an example of the positive outcomes achievable through cooperation. The diplomatic breakthrough involving Hubbard marks a notable consular development amid ongoing geopolitical tensions surrounding the broader conflict in Eastern Europe.
Reporting based on coverage first published by BBC News. Read the original report at BBC News.
