MOSCOW: A Moscow court on Friday began the trial of a 72-year-old American man accused of fighting as a mercenary in Ukraine, Russian news agencies reported.
Moscow City Court is hearing a criminal case against the American “over participating as a mercenary in the armed conflict on the side of Ukraine,” RIA Novosti news agency said.
It identified the man as Stefan Hubbard but said his name could be spelled differently, with social media posts suggesting the name could be Stephen Hubbard.
“We are aware of the reports of the arrest of an American citizen. Due to privacy restrictions we are unable to comment any further,” the US embassy in Moscow said in a statement.
The pensioner from Michigan moved to Ukraine in 2014, RIA Novosti said. Reports did not make clear when or how Hubbard arrived in Moscow.
At the hearing at Moscow’s highest city court, a judge agreed to the prosecutor’s request to detain Hubbard for six months on the grounds that he could try to flee, remanding him in custody until March 26, 2025.
The next hearing was set for next Thursday.
Participating as a mercenary in an armed conflict is punishable by up to 15 years in prison under Russian law.
A video posted on YouTube channels in May 2022 showed a man who gives his name as Stephen James Hubbard and said he was living in the city of Izyum in the Kharkiv region.
The man says he was born in Big Rapids, Michigan, and came to Izyum in 2014.
He looks dishevelled with a long beard and dirty nails.
Russia occupied part of the Kharkiv region including Izyum in March 2022 shortly after launching its February 24 offensive, and Ukraine retook Izyum in September 2022.
The American signed a contract with a Ukrainian territorial defense battalion the day after Russian forces entered Ukraine, the prosecutor said in court, RIA Novosti reported.
In this role, he was paid “at least $1,000 a month,” underwent training, received a uniform and weapons and “took part in the armed conflict,” the prosecutor said.
He was detained by a Russian soldier on April 2, 2022, she added without giving details.
Russia has arrested several US citizens in recent years on charges ranging from espionage and criticizing the Russian army to petty theft and family disputes.
Russia puts 72-year-old US man on trial as Ukraine mercenary
https://arab.news/2gcym
Russia puts 72-year-old US man on trial as Ukraine mercenary
- Moscow City Court is hearing a criminal case against the American “over participating as a mercenary in the armed conflict on the side of Ukraine,” RIA Novosti news agency said
- “We are aware of the reports of the arrest of an American citizen,” the US embassy in Moscow said
Indonesia’s first woman president awarded honorary doctorate by Princess Nourah University
- Megawati was recognized for her leadership and contributions to social, legal affairs
- She has received 10 other honorary degrees from Indonesian and foreign institutions
JAKARTA: Megawati Sukarnoputri, who served as Indonesia’s fifth president and was the country’s only female head of state to date, has been awarded an honorary doctorate by Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University in Riyadh, becoming the first foreign national to receive the title.
Megawati, the eldest daughter of Indonesia’s first President Sukarno and chairwoman of the country’s largest political party, the PDIP, served as president from 2001 to 2004.
The 79-year-old was awarded an honorary doctorate in organizational and legal affairs in Riyadh on Monday during a ceremony overseen by Princess Nourah University’s acting president, Dr. Fawzia bint Sulaiman Al-Amro.
“This recognition was given in appreciation of her efforts during her presidency, her significant contributions to social, organizational, and legal fields, and her role in strengthening institutional leadership in Indonesia,” the university said in a statement.
This is Megawati’s 11th honorary doctorate. She has received similar degrees from Indonesian and foreign universities, including the Moscow State Institute of International Relations in 2003 and the Soka University of Japan in 2020.
She has also been awarded the title of honorary professor by several institutions, including by the Seoul Institute of the Arts in 2022.
“We gather at the Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University, a university that stands as a symbol of women’s progress in education, knowledge and public service … To see so many intelligent women, I feel very proud,” Megawati said in her acceptance speech.
“Women’s empowerment is not a threat to any values, culture or tradition. It is actually a condition for nations that believe in their future … A great nation is one that is able to harness all of its human potential. A strong nation is one that does not allow half of its social power to be left on the sidelines of history.”
Megawati is the longest-serving political leader in Indonesia. Indonesia’s first direct presidential elections took place during her presidency, consolidating the country’s transition to democracy after the downfall of its longtime dictator Suharto in 1998.
