Russia releases former US Marine after more than four years in prison

Russia has released former US Marine Robert Gilman, who spent more than four years imprisoned on disputed charges under abusive conditions, according to Global Reach, an advocacy group that worked for his release. Eric Lebson of the organization said the 32-year-old teacher, detained since 2022, is now en route to a US military hospital in Texas, where he will undergo medical and psychological evaluation and treatment. Gilman's family, including his mother who had been in Russia trying to see him at a hospital, has flown to Texas to be with him.

Gilman was initially sentenced to three and a half years after being convicted of beating a police officer following his removal from a train for causing a disturbance. He was later convicted of attacking a prison inspector during a cell check and assaulting an investigator and a guard, receiving a sentence of eight years and one month in October 2024. That sentence was extended to ten years last year after he was found guilty of assaulting prison guards.

Gilman's sister, Lexie Hudson, credited President Donald Trump and Senator Ed Markey of Massachusetts with securing her brother's release, saying he is alive today only because Trump learned of the case and took action. She said her brother was mistreated simply for being an American and a Marine.

The State Department said Gilman, recently determined to have been wrongfully detained, was released on humanitarian grounds, stressing that it was not part of a prisoner exchange and that no other concessions were made. It expressed hope the release could pave the way for other wrongfully held Americans in Russia, such as Stephen Hubbard, to be freed.

Before leaving Russia, Gilman had spent 47 days in a dissociative stupor due to the abuse he suffered, and had been moved from prison to a civilian hospital, where he was fed through a tube and handcuffed to a bed. Hospital reports described his condition as life-threatening, prompting the US government to act and leading Russian officials to grant a unilateral humanitarian release. Senator Markey blamed Russian authorities for Gilman's deteriorated health, saying his return home was long overdue and that during his detention he endured physical torture, forced medication and provocations.