U.S. Marine veteran freed from Russian prison after nearly 4 years
A U.S. Marine veteran from Massachusetts who has been held in Russia for more than four years on disputed charges has been released.
American military veteran Robert Gilman has been released from a Russian prison after more than four years of captivity, President Trump announced on Tuesday. Mr. Trump stated that Russian President Vladimir Putin granted the release on humanitarian grounds, with no exchange required. Gilman, a 32-year-old teacher from Massachusetts, will arrive at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland on Tuesday night, where his aides will greet him.
The president noted Gilman's request for a great cheeseburger upon arrival. Eric Lebson, CEO of Global Reach, which aided in Gilman's release, said the veteran would undergo medical and psychological evaluation at a U.S. military hospital in Texas. Gilman, who was detained in 2022, was initially sentenced to 3.5 years for assaulting a police officer, then to eight years and one month for additional crimes, including attacks on prison personnel.
His sentence was extended to 10 years in October 2024 due to further assaults on guards. He had been in a dissociative stupor for 47 days due to the harsh conditions in prison, as reported by Lebson. Gilman's mother, Nancy, is joining him upon his return. The senator from Massachusetts, Edward Markey, had urged both countries to work together for Gilman's release.
The U.S. State Department had expressed deep concern about Gilman's health and ongoing detention in Russia.
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