The key facts
- Peskov cited the president's humanitarian considerations as the reason for Hubbard's release
- Hubbard was sentenced in October 2024 to 6 years and 10 months in a penal colony for fighting on the side of the Ukrainian Armed Forces
- Putin announced the release on October 21 during a meeting with Steve Witkoff in St. Petersburg
Peskov explains Hubbard's release
Press secretary of the Russian president Dmitry Peskov said in an interview with the Vesti news service that Vladimir Putin released convicted US citizen Stephen Hubbard on humanitarian grounds. 'In this case, the president once again made such a decision based on humanitarian considerations,' the Kremlin spokesman explained.
Circumstances of the case
Hubbard was serving a sentence for participating in hostilities on the side of the Ukrainian Armed Forces. In October 2024, the Moscow City Court sentenced him to six years and ten months in a general-regime penal colony in a mercenary case. The American had been in custody since April 2022.
Announcement during talks with Witkoff
Putin announced Hubbard's release on October 21 during talks with the US president's special envoy Steve Witkoff in St. Petersburg. The Russian leader specified that Hubbard was already at Pulkovo Airport. At the meeting, Witkoff thanked the Russian president for the release of his compatriot.
Trump's request
The day before, Donald Trump publicly said he had personally asked Putin to release Hubbard, but did not specify what response the American side had received from Moscow.
