Russia released a former U.S. Marine after four years in prison
Russia has released Robert Gilman, a former U.S. Marine Corps servicemember who had been detained since 2022. Russian President Vladimir Putin granted him a pardon on humanitarian grounds. The 32-year-old American is already on his way to the U.S., where he is set to receive the necessary medical treatment and undergo rehabilitation.
Robert Gilman was released from Russian custody on Tuesday, August 11. He then boarded a U.S. State Department plane that departed from Russia for Dulles International Airport near Washington, D.C. His mother, Nina, flew with him. A U.S. official who spoke with him after his release said he was able to walk and speak on his own.
“Given all the circumstances, he appears to be in fairly good condition,” the official said. Despite this, Gilman’s health remains a cause for concern. Four doctors are to monitor him during the flight. Upon arrival in the U.S., he is scheduled to be transported to a rehabilitation center in San Antonio, Texas.
Gilman had serious health problems
Robert Gilman’s exact diagnosis has not been officially disclosed. However, in late June, he was transferred from the prison hospital to the psychiatric ward of a civilian hospital. According to Eric Lebson, a representative of Global Reach, an organization assisting the American’s family, Gilman was in a state similar to catatonia at that time. Doctors assessed his condition as “dissociative stupor.”
Gilman is now scheduled to undergo a medical examination in the United States. U.S. officials have repeatedly called on Moscow to release him precisely because of his need for medical treatment. The White House and the State Department have insisted that the 32-year-old American must be allowed to return to the U.S. and receive the necessary medical care.
Why Gilman Ended Up in a Russian Prison
Robert Gilman served in the U.S. Marine Corps from August 2019 to August 2020. In January 2022, he was detained in Voronezh. According to the Russian side, the American was traveling by train and was intoxicated. Russian state media claimed that he allegedly kicked a police officer.
Ultimately, Gilman was sentenced to four and a half years in prison. His father, Vladimir Gilman, who had previously emigrated from Russia to Massachusetts, denied this version of events. According to him, his son was feeling unwell during the incident and accidentally bumped into the officer.
The father also claimed that the police officer was not injured, withdrew his complaint, and did not provide any evidence during the trial. That is why the family considered the charges against Gilman to be unfounded.
The release was the result of negotiations between the U.S. and Russia
The decision to release Gilman was made following negotiations between representatives of Washington and Moscow. According to U.S. officials, senior Russian official Yuri Ushakov informed representatives of U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration last week that Putin had agreed to sign a decree pardoning the American on humanitarian grounds.
The bulk of the negotiations took place over the weekend. Participants included U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Special Representative Steve Witkoff, Jared Kushner, U.S. Special Representative for Hostage Affairs Adam Beler, and other U.S. officials. At the same time, the U.S. emphasized that Gilman’s release was not a prisoner exchange. Washington did not hand over a Russian citizen in exchange for the American.
One of the U.S. representatives called Moscow’s decision a “gesture of goodwill.” “This is a gesture of goodwill,” the U.S. official stated.
The U.S. hopes for the release of other Americans
The U.S. State Department stated that Gilman had recently been officially recognized as having been unlawfully detained. Washington also hopes that, following his release, Moscow will release other U.S. citizens whom the U.S. considers to be unlawfully detained.
Among them is Stephen Hubbard, a retired teacher. In October 2024, a Russian court sentenced him to nearly seven years in prison. Russian authorities accused Hubbard of participating in a Ukrainian territorial defense unit, where he allegedly manned a checkpoint. The American himself denied this. According to Reuters, Gilman was one of at least ten U.S. citizens known to have been held in Russian prisons.
What’s Next
In the near future, Gilman’s main priority will be to recover his health. Upon arrival in the U.S., he is to be handed over to medical professionals and then transported to a rehabilitation center in San Antonio. For U.S. authorities, his release was the result of prolonged diplomatic efforts. At the same time, Washington emphasizes that the work does not end here. The U.S. continues to seek the release of its other citizens who remain in Russian detention facilities.
Gilman himself, after more than four years in the Russian prison system, is now returning to the United States, where he will be able to receive medical care and be with his family, according to Reuters.
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