MOSCOW — A Russian court Monday was set to announce the verdict in the closed-door trial of a 72-year-old US citizen who was accused of fighting as a mercenary for Ukraine, after being detained more than two years ago.
Russia has recently detained and tried a number of US citizens and recently completed a large prisoner exchange, including Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, which enabled it to return Russians jailed in the US.
The verdict is set to be read at 11:30 (0830 GMT) in the case of the American, who has been identified by media Stephen Hubbard.
Russia has said that Hubbard was detained on April 2, 2022, but his case only became public on September 27 this year, when his trial opened at Moscow City Court. Russia has not said where he had been detained.
He faces between seven and 15 years in prison over “participating as a mercenary in the armed conflict.” Prosecutors have not made public what sentence they requested.
The American appeared in poor health, walking slowly and dragging his feet at a hearing last week, when the court ordered that the trial be held in secret without media, at the request of prosecutors.
Thursday’s hearing lasted less than three hours.
Prosecutors allege that Hubbard was paid at least $1,000 a month to join a Ukrainian territorial defence unit. They say he underwent training, was given a combat uniform and “took part in the armed conflict” in Ukraine.
Russian news agencies reported that the defendant pleaded guilty.
