Kremlin denies Stephen Hubbard’s release was a prisoner swap

By Erick León

The Kremlin denied on October 23 that the release of American Stephen Hubbard had been agreed in exchange for the release of a Russian blogger detained in Montenegro, Reuters reported.

The statement responded to reports linking the two cases. Moscow rejected that interpretation of the conditions of the release.

The denial represents Russia’s official position. The information cited in the original report does not establish a confirmed exchange involving Hubbard and the Russian citizen.

Reuters. Information cited as of October 25, 2026.

Original Spanish report, published October 25, 2026.

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