Stephen Hubbard, a 74-year-old retired teacher from Michigan, was released from a Russian prison this week after more than four years of detention on charges of fighting as a mercenary in Ukraine. According to a former Ukrainian inmate held alongside Hubbard, the American faced severe physical and sexual abuse during his incarceration, suffering mistreatment reportedly fueled by his nationality.

Hubbard was freed on Wednesday following negotiations between the United States and Russia. During the release, U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff, who was in St. Petersburg, commended Russian President Vladimir Putin, referring to him as a “humanitarian.” This characterization was met with criticism from Ihor Shishko, a former prisoner who shared the same facility in Russia’s Bryansk region and who now operates a veteran rehabilitation center in Ukraine.

Shishko described the prison conditions as brutal, stating that inmates were treated “worse than animals.” He alleged that Hubbard was singled out by prison guards specifically because he was American, subjected to repeated physical violence, electric shocks, and sexual abuse. Shishko detailed that Hubbard was forced to crawl on the prison floor like a dog, resulting in severe abrasions that Shishko himself treated. He asserted the sexual abuse involved coerced genital touching in exchange for food and other basic necessities.

“These abuses were systematic and relentless,” Shishko said, emphasizing that the mistreatment occurred daily throughout Hubbard’s seven-year sentence in the cold, cramped facility. Shishko denounced Witkoff’s praise of Putin as “shameful and despicable,” insisting it ignored the harsh reality faced by Hubbard and other detainees.

In response to the allegations, the Russian government has not issued a detailed comment regarding the specific treatment of Hubbard or other detainees. Meanwhile, U.S. officials have highlighted the complexities of negotiating releases amid ongoing tensions between Washington and Moscow.

Hubbard’s case has drawn renewed attention to the conditions of foreign prisoners held in Russia, especially amid the backdrop of the conflict in Ukraine. Human rights advocates continue to raise concerns about the treatment of detainees accused of involvement in the conflict, underscoring the need for greater transparency and adherence to international standards.