Russia frees American Stephen Hubbard after 4 years behind bars

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Russia frees American Stephen Hubbard after 4 years behind bars. (2026, October 22). Al Jazeera. https://www.aljazeera.com/video/newsfeed/2026/10/22/russia-frees-american-stephen-hubbard-after-4-years-behind-bars?traffic_source=rss

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Russian authorities have released American citizen Stephen Hubbard after holding him in prison for four years following his conviction on charges of serving as a mercenary for Ukraine, which he denies. The 74-year-old's release occurred during a visit by US envoy Steve Witkoff to Russia, aimed at encouraging Moscow to participate in peace talks.

Written by AI on 2026-10-22, from this article's own text only (the story summary below draws on all the coverage).

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Story summary

On October 21, 2026, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced the release of Stephen Hubbard, a 74-year-old American citizen held since April 2022 on charges of mercenary activity in Ukraine, during talks with US envoy Steve Witkoff in St. Petersburg. Huber was freed after serving nearly seven years of a prison sentence and arrived back in the United States on October 22. Hubbard's sister Patricia stated that he had no prior knowledge of his release until seeing an American flag on board the plane taking him to Pulkovo Airport. US President Donald Trump praised Putin for releasing Hubbard, highlighting it as a diplomatic victory despite criticism over Trump’s recent actions benefiting Russia and straining ties with Ukraine.

Written for “Stephen Hubbard's Release From Russia” on 2026-11-01, grounded in this article and the 29 other(s) covering the same event.

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📰 Stephen Hubbard's Release From Russia

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