Russia frees ex-US marine after four years imprisonment on disputed charges

A former US Marine, Robert Gilman, who had been imprisoned in Russia since 2022, was released on Tuesday due to humanitarian concerns, according to President Donald Trump. Gilman, a teacher from Massachusetts, was serving a ten-year sentence for assaulting a police officer, and this was later extended to ten years due to violence against prison staff. His family and advocates had expressed alarm over his health, as he had been hospitalized for over a month and faced a potential death if not granted treatment in the US.

In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump confirmed that Russia had agreed to release Gilman "very much on a humanitarian basis" following discussions with President Vladimir Putin. A photo accompanying the post showed Gilman looking frail and holding an American flag as he boarded an airplane with several others smiling. The US government welcomed this decision, stating that Russia had asked for no one in return, meaning no exchange took place.

Global Reach, a group working to free American prisoners abroad, had raised concerns about Gilman's treatment in prison, alleging that he had been subjected to harsh and abusive conditions. On June 30, Gilman was moved from a prison hospital to a civilian hospital in Voronezh, where reports indicated that his condition was dire and life-threatening. He was subsequently transferred to a US military hospital in Texas for medical and psychological assessment and treatment.

Gilman's sister, Lexie Hudson, expressed gratitude for his release, questioning the motives behind Russia's decision. Secretary of State Marco Rubio also thanked Russia for working with special envoy Steve Witkoff to facilitate Gilman's release and allow him to receive necessary medical treatment in the United States. However, the US administration continued to seek the immediate return of all other unjustly detained Americans, including Stephen Hubbard, a retired English teacher sentenced to nearly seven years in prison for mercenary work in Ukraine, a charge he denies.