The US State Department called on Russia to release an American convicted of mercenary activities.

The US State Department has called on Russia to release American mercenary Stephen Hubbard, who was sentenced to prison by a court for participating in hostilities on the side of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU). This was announced on April 10 by State Department spokeswoman Tammy Bruce.

"I want to emphasize what I said in my statement: I call on Russia to release Stephen Hubbard, who has been in custody for almost three years," Bruce said during a conversation with reporters.

She also added that US President Donald Trump and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio will continue to work on the release of all United States citizens detained in Russia.

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On October 7, 2024, the court sentenced American Stephen Hubbard to 6 years and 10 months in a general regime penal colony for participating in hostilities on the side of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. He was 72 years old at the time of sentencing. Before that, on September 27, 2024, it became known that the American was paid $ 1 thousand per month.