Former Ukrainian detainees allege torture of U.S. citizen Stephen Hubbard in Russian prisons
Former Ukrainian detainees who were imprisoned with Stephen Hubbard said Russian guards beat, deprived and sexually humiliated the 74-year-old U. S. citizen during his four-year confinement, according to statements made on October 23. The claims were reported after Hubbard’s release, which followed President Donald J. Trump’s request to President Vladimir Putin for his freedom and Putin’s announcement of the release on October 20.
President Trump had told reporters he asked President Putin to free Hubbard, and President Putin later confirmed the American’s release during diplomatic talks on the Ukraine conflict. Hubbard was subsequently freed in St. Petersburg after a meeting between U. S. envoy Steve Witkoff and President Putin, with President Trump saying the release required no prisoner swap.