Nine Americans remain in Russian custody

Stephen Hubbard, a 74-year-old retired English teacher, spent more than four years in a Russian prison on mercenary charges. His family now considers the wait over as he returns to the United States.

However, up to ten other Americans remain in Russian custody. These individuals include some with dual Russian nationality. Russian authorities tightly control information leaving the country, making it difficult to verify the exact conditions of these detainees.

Travis Michael Leake, a rock musician who led the Moscow band Lovi Noch, was arrested in 2023. He was convicted of organizing drug sales and sentenced to 13 years in prison. A representative for Leake, who lived in Moscow since 2010, told CBS News that Leake is innocent. The family wrote to Secretary of State Marco Rubio, stating Leake was left behind during the August exchange of three other U.S. nationals.

Robert Woodland returned to Russia to find his birth mother after living with a U.S. foster family. He pleaded partially guilty to drug trafficking charges in 2024. His sentence was reduced to 9.5 years in 2025. His attorney, Stanislav Kshevitskii, said in October 2026 that there have been no updates to the case.

David Barnes was convicted in a Russian court and sentenced to 21 years in a penal colony. The conviction followed a custody dispute with his Russian ex-wife. Texas judges had ruled in Barnes' favor on joint custody between 2014 and 2018. His ex-wife took their two sons to Russia in 2019. Barnes wrote to his sons from prison, asserting his innocence and expressing devastation over their separation.

Daniel Schneider faces a six-year sentence for kidnapping. He was arrested in July 2023 while crossing into Poland with his four-year-old son. Prosecutors argued the child's mother did not consent to the boy leaving Russia. A website advocating for his release describes the case as a complex international child custody dispute.

Gordon Black, a U.S. Army staff sergeant stationed in South Korea, was sentenced to 3 years and 2 months in prison. He was arrested in Russia after visiting a girlfriend who accused him of stealing money. Charles Zimmerman, a retired Navy veteran, was convicted of arms smuggling and given a sentence in January 2026. He was arrested in Sochi after following a Russian Navy vessel while sailing his private boat. His sister, Robin Stultz, says Russian authorities denied him access to U.S. diplomats.

Andre Khachatoorian was sentenced to 8.5 years in prison in 2023 for arms trafficking. He was detained in Moscow in December 2021 while traveling to Armenia. Supporters claim he had proper paperwork for a locked firearm case in his luggage. Eugene Spector received a 15-year sentence for espionage in December 2024. His trial was held behind closed doors. Aleksandr Antonov, a naturalized citizen, is charged with extremism. U.S. officials are debating whether to designate him as wrongfully detained.