Diplomacy: US citizen released after years of Russian imprisonment

After more than four years in Russian custody, American Robert Gilman has been released, according to President Donald Trump. "Following my conversations with President Vladimir Putin, Russia has agreed to release him on humanitarian grounds," Trump wrote on his platform Truth Social. He emphasized that there was no prisoner swap and that Moscow had not demanded anything in return.

According to the non-profit organization Global Reach, which had been advocating for his release, Gilman was arrested on January 17, 2022. During his imprisonment, he was allegedly mistreated. "On June 30, Robert was transferred from the prison hospital to a civilian hospital in Voronezh. Reports from hospital staff described Robert's condition as critical and life-threatening," it said.

Trump said he spoke with Gilman, who wished for a "good cheeseburger" now that he was returning to the United States. According to Trump, Gilman was set to land at Joint Base Andrews military airfield near Washington on Tuesday evening (local time).

Gilman served in the United States Marine Corps, according to the non-profit Foley Foundation. He fell ill while on a train journey through Russia. Instead of receiving medical help, he was taken to a police station, where he was confronted with several charges.

According to the state Russian news agency Tass, he was arrested at Voronezh station for drunkenness and aggressive behavior and allegedly hit a police officer at the station. He was initially sentenced to four and a half years in prison, which was later reduced by one year. However, due to further allegations of attacks on officials during his imprisonment, his sentence was extended by several years.

The organization Global Reach quoted Gilman's sister Lexie Hudson as saying: "The Russians treated my brother so badly. They hurt him for no reason, just because he was American and a Marine."