Russia Releases Imprisoned American Stephen Hubbard After Trump Plea

WHO:

CBS News World - Stephen Hubbard is a U.S. citizen.

CBS News World - Steve Witkoff is a U.S. envoy.

NY Post - Stephen Hubbard is from Michigan.

BBC News - Vladimir Putin and U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff were involved in talks concerning Hubbard.

WHAT:

CBS News World - Steve Witkoff said that Stephen Hubbard had been released from Russian imprisonment.

NY Post - Hubbard was sentenced to nearly seven years in prison after a closed trial.

BBC News - State media reported that Russia freed Hubbard.

BBC News - Putin said Hubbard had been taken to Pulkovo Airport.

WHERE:

CBS News World - Hubbard had been jailed in Russia.

NY Post - Hubbard is from Michigan.

BBC News - Hubbard was taken to Pulkovo Airport.

WHEN:

CBS News World - Hubbard had been jailed since 2022.

NY Post - Hubbard’s closed trial and sentence took place in 2024.

WHY:

NY Post - The article says Hubbard was freed after a plea from Trump.

HOW:

BBC News - Putin described Hubbard’s transfer to Pulkovo Airport during talks with U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff.

(UPDATED October 21, 2026 11:00 UTC)

U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff said Stephen Hubbard, a U.S. citizen from Michigan, had been released from Russian imprisonment, and Russian state media also reported his release. Hubbard had been jailed in Russia since 2022 and was sentenced to nearly seven years after a closed trial. Vladimir Putin said Hubbard was taken to Pulkovo Airport, describing the transfer during talks with Witkoff; the New York Post reported Hubbard was freed after a plea from Trump.