An American Marine Could Die in a Russian Prison, According to Reuters
Robert Gilman, a former U.S. Marine who has been detained in Russia since 2022, fell into a stupor in June and may be on the verge of death. This was reported by his sister and representatives of two human rights organizations.
According to Eric Lebson, chief strategist for the human rights organization Global Reach, which represents the family’s interests, the 32-year-old Gilman is being fed through a feeding tube.
The American was being held in a prison in Voronezh, approximately 550 km south of Moscow. In late June, he was transferred from the prison hospital to the psychiatric ward of a civilian emergency hospital in a catatonic-like state, which doctors diagnosed as “dissociative stupor.”
According to the World Health Organization’s classification, dissociative stupor is characterized by a profound reduction or absence of voluntary movements and normal responses to external stimuli.
According to Lebson, Gilman is unable to communicate, is being fed and hydrated via a feeding tube, and his eyes remain closed. Due to his health condition, he is also unable to attend court hearings.
“It appears he is not receiving the care he needs, and we are deeply concerned for his life and safety,” said Elizabeth Richards, director of advocacy and hostage research at the Foley Foundation, which is monitoring the case.
The White House and the U.S. State Department have repeatedly called on Moscow to release Gilman so that he can receive the necessary treatment in the United States.
According to a Reuters source familiar with the situation, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio raised Gilman’s case during a meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in Manila on July 23. The source does not know what response Lavrov gave.
The State Department stated:
“We are deeply concerned about Robert Gilman’s health and his continued detention.”
The Russian Embassy did not respond to requests for comment.
Meanwhile, a senior official in the Donald Trump administration stated that U.S. authorities “are closely monitoring Mr. Gilman’s case and have repeatedly and insistently called on the Russians to return him to the United States.”
According to Lebson, a Russian hospital has barred Gilman’s mother from visiting her son, even though she has a court order allowing her to do so.
U.S. consular officials were previously able to visit Gilman in prison from time to time, but neither U.S. representatives nor his Russian lawyer are being allowed into the hospital.
Gilman’s sister, Lexi Hudson, stated:
“I’m more afraid for my brother than I’ve ever been since this terrible nightmare began. I’m afraid I’ll never see him again unless the Russians release him. I’m afraid he might die.”
Gilman served in the U.S. Marine Corps from August 2019 to August 2020.
He was arrested on January 17, 2022, in Voronezh while traveling by train. According to Russian state media, he was detained for allegedly kicking a police officer while intoxicated.
However, Gilman’s father, Vladimir, who emigrated from Russia to Massachusetts, claimed that the charges were false. According to him, his son became ill during the incident and accidentally kicked the officer. The police officer was reportedly unharmed, withdrew the charges, and did not provide any evidence in court.
Robert Gilman was sentenced to 4.5 years in prison.
According to his father, the family had asked the U.S. State Department as early as March 2023 to recognize Gilman as “wrongfully detained.” Such a designation would have made his release a priority for the U.S. government.
Reuters was unable to determine why such a designation has not yet been granted.
Russian state media reported that in 2024, Gilman’s prison term was extended to 10 years, allegedly for attacking prison staff.
Lebson and Richards deny these allegations. They claim that Gilman was held under extremely harsh conditions, subjected to torture, and given mind-altering drugs. According to them, this is what may have led to the deterioration of his condition and his transfer to a civilian hospital.
“We are seriously concerned that we may see a situation similar to the Otto Warmbier case,” Lebson said.
He referred to Otto Warmbier, an American student whom North Korea released in 2017 in a coma after 17 months of imprisonment. Warmbier died that same month in a U.S. hospital from severe brain damage of unknown origin, never having regained consciousness.
This was reported by Reuters.
Earlier, a court in the Czech Republic found a 33-year-old Ukrainian citizen guilty of murdering his 22-year-old compatriot and sentenced him to 14 years in prison. After serving his sentence, the man will be deported from the country.
Earlier, a U.S. court sentenced 28-year-old Hadi Matar to life in prison for attacking British-American author Salman Rushdie and supporting terrorist activities. The verdict concluded a trial during which the author himself testified.
