**Hubbard, the only American designated as wrongfully detained by the U.S., remains a potential candidate for a prisoner exchange.**
**U.S. Teacher Wrongfully Detained in Russia Found in Prison After Months of Silence**
**U.S. Teacher Wrongfully Detained in Russia Found in Prison After Months of Silence**
**Stephen James Hubbard's family breaks weeks of uncertainty as he reaches out from captivity.**
After a prolonged absence from communications, Stephen James Hubbard, a former American teacher, has been located within a Russian penal system following his abduction during the early stages of the Russia-Ukraine conflict in February 2022. Hubbard's family had faced significant uncertainty regarding his fate since his conviction last fall, but he has recently been able to connect with his son via phone.
At 73 years old, Hubbard stands as the sole American identified by the U.S. State Department as "wrongfully detained," indicating that the U.S. government believes the allegations against him are exaggerated or entirely untrue. His situation places him in a likely position for any future negotiation involving prisoner exchanges between Washington and Moscow.
Hubbard faced accusations of serving as a mercenary and operating a checkpoint on behalf of Ukraine, and he was sentenced to nearly seven years in a penal colony in October 2022. Since then, communication with his family had ceased, compounded by bizarre legal proceedings—namely, a Russian judge's decision to strip his case file of public information, including details concerning his legal representation.
Reports confirm that Hubbard is currently incarcerated in the IK-12 penal colony situated in Mordovia, a region in Russia known for its penal facilities. Authorities have shared limited information about his imprisonment, raising concerns for his well-being and future. The recent communication at least provides his family a glimmer of hope amid a troubling and complex international legal and diplomatic landscape.
At 73 years old, Hubbard stands as the sole American identified by the U.S. State Department as "wrongfully detained," indicating that the U.S. government believes the allegations against him are exaggerated or entirely untrue. His situation places him in a likely position for any future negotiation involving prisoner exchanges between Washington and Moscow.
Hubbard faced accusations of serving as a mercenary and operating a checkpoint on behalf of Ukraine, and he was sentenced to nearly seven years in a penal colony in October 2022. Since then, communication with his family had ceased, compounded by bizarre legal proceedings—namely, a Russian judge's decision to strip his case file of public information, including details concerning his legal representation.
Reports confirm that Hubbard is currently incarcerated in the IK-12 penal colony situated in Mordovia, a region in Russia known for its penal facilities. Authorities have shared limited information about his imprisonment, raising concerns for his well-being and future. The recent communication at least provides his family a glimmer of hope amid a troubling and complex international legal and diplomatic landscape.
