Russia Frees Ex-U.S. Marine Robert Gilman After Vladimir Putin Pardon

With Gilman's release from Russia, families of other detained Americans hope their relatives will be next David Barnes, 69, is serving the longest sentence of any American in Russia. When U.S. Marine Corps veteran Robert Gilman was released Tuesday after more than four years in Russian custody, Carol Barnes was paying close attention as Gilman flew home with his mother on his way to see the rest of his family in a Texas military hospital. "I'm happy for them, but I want to be happy for all the Americans to come home," she told ABC News in an interview Tuesday. "This is where they belong." Her 69-year-old brother, David Barnes, is serving the longest sentence of any of the Americans who remain incarcerated in Russia. The Huntsville, Alabama, native was living in The Woodlands, Texas, ahead of his detention in Moscow in 2022. "He's always very upbeat," Carol Barnes said, "I don't think he tells us everything that really goes on because he doesn't want to worry us." David Barnes was arrested by Russian police just four days before Gilman, 32, was taken into custody. While the two men entered the Russian penal system around the same time, their cases differ significantly. Gilman allegedly fought with a Russian police officer at a transportation hub, while David Barnes was accused by Moscow prosecutors of criminal conduct not in Russia, but in Texas. David Barnes' relatives previously told ABC News he traveled to Russia at the end of 2021 to try to gain visitation or custody rights to his sons through Moscow's family court system after his Russian ex-wife, Svetlana Koptyaeva, had allegedly committed a felony by taking their children to her native country following bitter divorce and child custody proceedings in Montgomery County, Texas. Upon learning of David Barnes' arrival in Russia, his family says she contacted law enforcement in Moscow and accused him of having abused the two boys in Texas years earlier. Russian police arrested David Barnes on these allegations and was ultimately sentenced by a Moscow judge to more than two decades in a penal colony, even though Texas law enforcement had no involvement in the Russian trial and previously found the allegations to not be credible after conducting their own investigation in response to Koptyaeva's claims. Koptyaeva, who has maintained to ABC News that the allegations against David Barnes are true, was criminally charged with interference with child custody in Texas and David Barnes was eventually designated by a Texas judge as his sons' primary guardian, even though the children were out of the country. "The case against his wife is still open and the warrant is still active," Montgomery County, Texas, First Assistant District Attorney Kelly Blackburn told ABC News Tuesday. "There are still no charges on Mr. Barnes in Montgomery County." Gilman was released from Russian detention on humanitarian grounds following recent health concerns. His release came after multiple other Americans previously detained in Russia, including Brittney Griner, Paul Whelan and Evan Gershkovich, have returned to the U.S. through exchanges. "During my Administration, we have prioritized bringing home Americans Detained Abroad, and have done so at a level never seen before," President Donald Trump wrote on social media on Tuesday. "We must also never forget that there are still more than five other Americans detained in Russia," U.S. Sen. Ed Markey, D-Mass., said in a statement Tuesday. "I urge the Trump administration to use Robert's case as motivation to continue to advocate for the release of others wrongfully detained in Russia and around the world." Aleksandr Antonov, Olga Jezler, Andre Khachatoorian, Stephen Hubbard and Chuck Zimmerman are among the Americans who continue to be held in Russia. Kieran Ramsey of Global Reach, which represents several families of detained Americans, said a number of them have experienced major health challenges. A State Department spokesperson told ABC News that, "this Administration will continue to work for the release of all Americans unjustly detained in Russia. ..." "Our hope is that none of them have to reach this critical stage for action to occur and that we've set the pathway for humanitarian releases for Americans who are wrongfully detained in Russia," Ramsey told ABC News. Carol Barnes said she dreams of one day being at the airport and being able to run toward her brother as he gets off a flight from Russia. "When I see him, I'm probably not going to let go of him for a long time," she said.

Buenos Aires, August 11 (NA) -- The former American Marine Robert Gilman, whose health is grave, was released by Russia after four years in detention, announced this Tuesday by the Donald Trump Administration. “We celebrate Robert Gilman’s return to the United States,” a State Department spokesman told the press, who revealed that Steve Witkoff, Trump’s special envoy, participated in the negotiations to secure his release, DW reported and CNN reported, and the Argentine News Agency learned. “Gilman’s release is not part of any exchange, nor was any concession made,” the spokesman also clarified in an email. U.S. President Donald Trump said he had spoken with Gilman, whom his supporters and family feared was “on the brink of death” after reportedly being subjected to physical and psychological torture. “After my conversation with President Vladimir Putin, Russia has agreed to release him, mainly for humanitarian reasons,” Trump wrote in a Truth Social post on Tuesday. Trump said Gilman would arrive at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland on Tuesday night, where some government officials would welcome him back to the United States. “I just spoke with him and he asked me for one thing: a fantastic cheeseburger when he lands! I’ll take care of that,” the president added. Kirill Dmitriev, Kremlin envoy and head of Russia’s sovereign wealth fund, also stated on Tuesday that Gilman had been released from custody “for humanitarian reasons,” according to CNN. Gilman, 32, a native of Massachusetts, was detained in January 2022 while traveling by train near Voronezh, in western Russia, accused of assaulting a police officer. Subsequently charges for alleged assaults on prison staff were added, increasing his sentence to ten years in prison. He was one of the most prominent American detainees in Russia. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio celebrated the ex-Marine’s release, but noted that the Administration “continues to seek the immediate return of all other unjustly detained Americans, including Stephen Hubbard, unlawfully detained.” Eric Lebson, Global Reach’s director of strategy, told CNN last week that Gilman had fallen into a “dissociative stupor” for more than six weeks and that there was a fear he could die in Russian custody. Last week, a State Department spokesman reiterated that they were “deeply concerned” about his “health and his ongoing detention in Russia.” NA News Agency

A former US Marine has been freed by Russia and is due to arrive back home in the United States after being held for four years. Robert Gilman, 32, is expected to land at Andrews Air Force Base near Washington, DC, on Tuesday night, US President Donald Trump said on his Truth Social platform. Gilman had been detained in 2022 over an alleged altercation with a police officer. Russian President Vladimir Putin had agreed to release him “very much on a humanitarian basis”, Trump wrote, adding that no one was freed by the US in exchange for Gilman’s return. Recommended Stories list of 3 items- list 1 of 3US Senate passes Russia sanctions that could hurt India and China - list 2 of 3US courts clear way for deportations of South Sudan, Myanmar nationals - list 3 of 3Russian forces kill several in Ukraine, launch ‘brutal’ attack in Odesa The US had urged Moscow to release Gilman so he could receive medical treatment at home. He was being held in a prison in Voronezh, about 550 kilometres (340 miles) south of Moscow. The exact circumstances of his health are unclear. A US official who spoke to Gilman said he was walking and talking. “All things considered, he seems to be in good shape,” the official said. Several doctors will evaluate him during the flight, US officials said. Gilman’s mother, Nina, is on the plane returning to the US with him, Trump said. Trump said a team of officials from his administration had worked on securing Gilman’s release, including his envoy for hostage negotiations Adam Boehler, along with advisers Steve Witkoff, Sebastian Gorka, and Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner. US officials said that after his arrival, Gilman is to be flown to a rehabilitation centre in San Antonio, Texas, for medical treatment. US Senator Ed Markey, who had been working with Gilman’s family to secure his release, said in a statement that Gilman was in a “near-death” condition, after suffering a severe case of pneumonia and entering a catatonic state where he was “non-responsive and unable to interact or eat”. Markey said Gilman’s release was “long overdue” and he had been “subjected to physical torture, forced medication, and provocations by Russian authorities” during his detention. Gilman, who served in the US Marines from August 2019 until August 2020, was travelling by train when he was arrested in January 2022 in Voronezh, according to an advocacy group representing his family. He was detained for allegedly kicking a police officer while drunk, according to Russian state media. However, his father, Vladimir Gilman, who emigrated to Massachusetts from Russia, wrote in an October 2024 Boston Globe op-ed that the charges were false. His son, he said, had fallen ill when the incident occurred and accidentally kicked the officer. The officer was uninjured, dropped the charges and did not present evidence at Gilman’s trial, he wrote. Robert Gilman was initially sentenced to four and a half years in jail, but that sentence was extended several times as he was charged over alleged assaults while in prison. The US government had recently designated Gilman as wrongfully detained. Gilman had been one of at least 10 Americans known to be imprisoned in Russia.

Russia releases former US Marine reported in poor health President Donald Trump said a former US Marine held in a Russian prison, whose health was reportedly in extremely poor condition, has been released. "After my discussions with President Vladimir Putin, Russia has agreed to release him, very much on a Humanitarian Basis," Trump wrote on Truth Social, adding that no prisoner swap took place. Robert Gilman, who is from Massachusetts, was arrested in 2022 for allegedly kicking a police officer while aboard a train. He had recently been moved from prison to a civilian hospital in Russia after going into a catatonic-like state. Gilman was on a flight back to the US accompanied by his mother, doctors, and members of the administration. The BBC understands Gilman is expected to arrive early on Wednesday morning at a US military hospital in Texas where he will be assessed and treated. Trump said he spoke to Gilman on the phone, "and he had one request — A GREAT cheeseburger when he lands. I will take care of that!" "During my Administration, we have prioritised bringing home Americans detained abroad, and have done so at a level never seen before," Trump added. Gilman's health was in "life-threatening condition" after he was subjected to "harsh and abusive treatment", his family said in a statement. "The Russians treated my brother so badly. They hurt him for no reason, other than that he was both and American and a Marine," his sister, Lexi Hudson, said. "I am so grateful to President Trump for saving my brother's life," she added. Massachusetts Senator Ed Markey also helped secure her brother's release, she said. In a statement, Markey said: "Approximately 50 days ago, Robert was diagnosed with a dissociative stupor - a condition where he is non-responsive and unable to interact or eat. " Kieran Ramsey, chief investigative officer for Global Reach, the advocacy group representing the former marine, told Reuters that Gilman was released because the Russian government realised "they're not losing any geopolitical power position by releasing him. This is a humanitarian release". Gilman served in the US Marines from August 2019 to August 2020. He was arrested for allegedly kicking a police officer while drunk aboard a train to Moscow in January 2022 and was initially given a sentence of three and a half years. He was later found guilty of assaulting prison guards, after he allegedly attacked a prison inspector during a cell check. His sentence was then increased to 10 years. In Russian confinement, Gilman was subjected to repeated harassment, including forced exercise training sessions that lasted up to 16 hours and the administration of psychotropic drugs, Eric Lebson of Global Reach told CBS News, the BBC's media partner. The abuse was so severe that at one point Gilman had required a feeding tube in his nose, according to Lebson. He said five other Americans remain in Russia, each contending with medical issues. Their names are Aleksandr Antonov, David Barnes, Olga Jezler, Andre Khachatoorian, and Chuck Zimmerman. "While we appreciate this positive step, we are still seeking the immediate return of all other unjustly detained Americans," Secretary of State Marco Rubio wrote on X. "The President will not stop until all unjustly detained Americans are home," he continued.

Russia has released an American military veteran who spent more than four years in prison, President Trump said Tuesday, days after a group advocating for his freedom said he was gravely ill. Mr. Trump said Russian President Vladimir Putin agreed to release on a "humanitarian basis" and that "Russia asked for no one in return.""No exchange took place," Mr. Trump wrote on Truth Social announcing the release. The president said Gilman will arrive at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland on Tuesday night, where some of Mr. Trump's representatives will welcome him back to the U.S. "I just spoke to him, and he had one request — A GREAT cheeseburger when he lands. I will take care of that!" he added. Eric Lebson, chief strategy officer of Global Reach, said earlier Tuesday that Gilman will be medically and psychologically assessed and treated at a U.S. military hospital in Texas. Global Reach has been working to free him and other American detainees abroad. Mr. Trump said Gilman was also reunited with his mother, Nancy, who is flying back to the U.S. with him. The president's post included a photo of Gilman and several others on a plane. His mother was in Russia attempting to see him at the hospital, Global Reach said in a statement. "I am so grateful to President Trump for saving my brother's life. There is no other reason that Robert is alive today other than that President Trump heard about the case and took action," Gilman's sister Lexie Hudson said. Gilman, a 32-year-old teacher from Lowell, Massachusetts, had been detained since 2022. He was initially handed a 3 1/2-year sentence in 2022 when he was convicted of beating a police officer after being taken off a train for causing a disturbance. He later was convicted of attacking a prison inspector during a cell check, beating an investigator and assaulting a guard, and he was sentenced in October 2024 to eight years and one month. His sentence was extended last year to 10 years after he was found guilty of assaulting prison guards. Before he was flown out of Russia, he had been in "a dissociative stupor" for 47 days due to the abuse he has suffered in prison, Lebson said. Gilman had been moved from a prison to a civilian hospital, where he was hooked up to a feeding tube and handcuffed to a bed. Lebson told CBS News last week that Russian authorities had subjected Gilman to mistreatment, including harassment, forced exercise sessions lasting up to 16 hours and the administration of psychotropic drugs. Lebson also alleged Gilman was pressured to fight in Ukraine. Lebson said Tuesday that it's "too early to know Robert's long-term medical prognosis" and that his family "has asked for space while they reunite with Robert and work to support his recovery." Sen. Edward Markey had called on Russia and the U.S. to work together to get the Massachusetts resident released. Gilman was one of at least eight Americans who remain in Russian custody after a series of high-profile prisoner exchanges with the U.S. in recent years. A State Department spokesperson told CBS News last week that given Gilman's health concerns, the Trump administration "has raised his case repeatedly with the Russian government and has requested his release on humanitarian grounds." The spokesperson said the U.S. was "deeply concerned about Robert Gilman's health and continued detention in Russia."

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Russia on Tuesday released Robert Gilman, a former US Marine who had spent more than four years in prison on disputed charges, according to a group advocating for him and US officials. US President Donald Trump and the State Department both said the release was on "humanitarian grounds" and that it was not part of an exchange or prisoner swap with Russia. Who is Robert Gilman? The 32-year-old former service member had been working as a teacher in Russia when he was first detained in 2022, accused of assaulting a police officer after being ejected from a train for causing a disturbance. He was later accused of other violent offenses while incarcerated and was given a longer jail sentences, ultimately reaching a total of roughly 10 years. Advocacy group Global Reach had warned of Gilman's deteriorating health condition in detention. His mother was in Russia trying to secure his release as the news developed. What did Trump and the State Department say about the release? Trump posted about the release on his Truth Social platform, also including what appeared to be a photo of a sedentary Gilman, his mother and others on a plane, holding an American flag. "After my discussions with President Vladimir Putin, Russia has agreed to release him, very much on a Humanitarian Basis," Trump wrote. "We appreciated the decision, and the fact that Russia asked for no one in return — No exchange took place." He said that Gilman and others would land at Andrews Air Force Base in Washington later on Tuesday to be welcomed back to the US. The State Department, meanwhile, issued a statement attributed to Secretary of State Marco Rubio. "We thank Russia for working with Special Envoy Steve Witkoff to release Mr. Gilman and allowing him to receive the necessary medical treatment here in the United States," Rubio said. "While we appreciate this positive step, we are still seeking the immediate return of all other unjustly detained Americans, including wrongful detainee Stephen Hubbard." The statement lauded Trump's efforts to free US-Americans from foreign detention during his second term and concluded that Trump "will not stop until all unjustly detained Americans are home." Gilman's sister credits Trump, Democrat senator with her brother's release Gilman's sister Lexie Hudson said in a statement from advocacy group Global Reach that Trump hearing about the case and taking action was the "reason that Robert is alive today." She also thanked Democrat Massachusetts Senator Ed Markey "for leading our advocacy efforts in Congress." "The Russians treated my brother so badly," Hudson said. "They hurt him for no reason, other than that he was both an American and a Marine. What did they get out of this? Why did they do this to such a wonderful person?" According to Global Reach's chief strategy officer Eric Lebson, Gilman had been in a "dissociative stupor" for 47 days, attributing this to abuse he suffered in prison. He had been moved to a civilian hospital prior to his release, and would soon be medically and psychologically assessed and treated at a US military hospital, Lebson said. Gilman's mother had traveled to Russia amid the reports of her son's deteriorating health to try to see him. "It is a tragedy that it took Robert's near-death condition for his case to receive the attention that it required for his release to be negotiated," Massachusetts Senator Markey said in the statement from Global Reach. "Throughout his detention, Robert was subjected to physical torture, forced medication, and provocations by Russian authorities. There is no doubt that his treatment by Russian authorities is the reason Robert is in this precarious state today." Gilman was arrested in January 2022, a few weeks before Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. His prosecution proceeded as relations between Putin's Russia and NATO members deteriorated markedly. Edited by: Rebecca Staudenmaier If you rely on our team for trusted reporting, please take a moment to select us as your Preferred Source on Google, so you'll always see our verified news first.

The military serviceman was detained for beating a Russian police officer during a train trip. He will be transferred to the United States to receive medical care after Putin approved the pardon for “humanitarian reasons.” Moscow released on Tuesday the former American Marine Robert Gilman, who had been imprisoned in Russia since 2022, after Russian President Vladimir Putin approved a pardon for “humanitarian reasons.” The service member is reported to have health problems, according to American officials. The White House and the State Department had urged Moscow to release Gilman, 32, so that he could receive medical treatment in the United States. Gilman, who served in the United States Marine Corps from August 2019 to August 2020, was traveling by train when he was detained in January 2022 in the Russian city of Voronezh. Russian state media reported that he had been arrested for allegedly kicking a police officer while under the influence of alcohol. Gilman had been confined in a Voronezh prison, about 550 kilometers south of Moscow. The exact circumstances of his health status are unclear. However, Eric Lebson, director of strategy at Global Reach, a advocacy group that represents Gilman’s family, told Reuters last week that, at the end of June, the American had been moved from the prison hospital to the psychiatry department of an emergency civil hospital, where he exhibited a state similar to catatonia, diagnosed as a “dissociative stupor.” American officials have said that on Tuesday Gilman was traveling aboard a Department of State airplane bound for Washington Dulles International Airport. An American official who spoke with Gilman said he could walk and carry on a conversation. “All things considered, he seems to be in good condition,” the official said. American sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity, noted that four doctors would assess Gilman during the flight. His mother, Nina, was also on board. Upon arrival at the airport, Gilman is expected to be welcomed by the American envoy Steve Witkoff and the Deputy National Security Advisor Sebastian Gorka, who had worked for his release alongside Secretary of State Marco Rubio; Jared Kushner, husband of former U.S. President Donald Trump; the U.S. special envoy for hostage crisis response, Adam Boehler, and other officials. Subsequently, Gilman is likely to be transferred to a rehabilitation center in San Antonio, Texas, where he will receive medical treatment, according to officials. His father, Vladimir Gilman, who emigrated from Russia to Massachusetts, wrote a op-ed published in The Boston Globe in October 2024 that the allegations were false. According to the family’s account, the ex-military man had fallen ill when the incident occurred and had accidentally kicked the officer. The officer was not injured, the charges were dropped, and no evidence was presented during Gilman’s trial, he wrote. Robert Gilman was sentenced to four and a half years in prison. He was one of at least 10 American citizens known to be imprisoned in Russia. U.S. officials have said that a Russian official, Yuri Ushakov, informed Trump’s advisers last week that Putin had agreed to sign a decree pardoning Gilman for “humanitarian reasons,” within the framework of the friendship between the Russian president and the American president. The release was the result of intense negotiations between U.S. and Russian officials over the weekend. According to American sources, Washington did not exchange any Russian prisoner in return for Gilman’s release. “It’s a goodwill gesture,” one official said.

The President of the United States, Donald Trump, said on Tuesday that his talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin led to the release of an American former Marine who had been detained in Russia for more than four years. The Kremlin leader had approved the pardon for “humanitarian reasons.” "After my conversations with President Putin, Russia agreed to release him, largely for humanitarian reasons," Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform, shortly after the State Department announced the release of Robert Gilman. The post includes a photo of a gaunt Gilman wearing a baseball cap aboard a plane, holding an American flag next to other smiling people. "We appreciate this decision and the fact that Russia did not demand anything in return: there was no prisoner exchange," Trump asserted. Ten years Gilman had been sentenced in 2022 by a southwestern Russia court to four and a half years in prison for "violence" against a police officer. His sentence was later extended to 10 years for violence against prison staff. In a statement, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio added his thanks to Russia for working with Special Envoy Steve Witkoff to secure Gilman’s release and allow him to receive the necessary medical treatment here in the United States. Deterioration of health Gilman’s severe health deterioration had recently been noted by his sister, Lexie Hudson. Rubio said that, while the Trump administration welcomed this “positive step,” it continued to seek "the immediate return of all other unjustly detained Americans, including the wrongly detained Stephen Hubbard." Hubbard, a retired English professor, was sentenced in a closed-door trial in October 2024 to nearly seven years in prison for "mercenary work" in support of Ukraine, a charge he denies. - The Italian opposition criticizes Meloni for creating a baseless diplomatic crisis with Spain - Colombia shaken by a 7.4-magnitude earthquake, prompting the government to declare a national disaster - Iran war, live | Latest developments in the Middle East conflict - Meloni’s government deems Spain’s reaction to impose travel controls on people from Italy "unacceptable and incomprehensible" - An outbreak of the flesh-eating bacteria raises alerts along the US East Coast with first deaths - A dinghy carrying 230 people crosses the English Channel, the highest count in a single crossing - Italy rejects Spain’s ultimatum and says it will maintain border controls at least until August 15 - Netanyahu rejects Trump’s plan to unlock the situation in Gaza and keeps all options open

MADRID, Aug 11 (EUROPA PRESS) - The President of the United States, Donald Trump, announced on Tuesday that Robert Gilman, a former U.S. Marine who has been detained in Russia since 2022, has been released and will arrive in Washington tonight, a fact he attributed to recent conversations with his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin. "I am proud to announce that the American citizen Robert Gilman, a former U.S. Marine, is coming home! As the media well knows, Robert was imprisoned in Russia in 2022, during the Biden administration. After my conversations with President Vladimir Putin, Russia has agreed to release him for purely humanitarian reasons," he wrote on his social media. The White House occupant expressed his thanks to the Kremlin for a concession that, he asserted, did not involve any prisoner exchange, although Russian authorities have not yet commented on this announcement. Trump said the former Marine will land this "tonight" at Andrews Air Force Base—Maryland, near Washington—on a plane with some of his "representatives" and with his "wonderful mother, Nancy." The Republican took pride in noting that under his administration the return of Americans detained abroad has been prioritized. "We’ve done it to an unprecedented level, bringing hundreds of people home to be with their families," he said. He also thanked Gilman’s "incredible team," as well as Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and his son-in-law, Jared Kushner, as well as the Special Envoy for Kidnapping Response, Adam Boehler, and the Chief Terrorism Fighting Officer, Sebastian Gorka. Secretary of State Marco Rubio thanked Moscow for "its cooperation" with Witkoff to free Gilman "and allow him to receive the necessary medical treatment in the United States." In a statement, the head of U.S. diplomacy highlighted this "positive step," while assuring that Washington continues to seek the immediate return of all other unjustly detained Americans, including Professor Stephen Hubbard, accused of fighting alongside Ukrainian Armed Forces and detained since April 2022 when Russian troops captured him in the Ukrainian city of Izium. A Russian court sentenced Gilman in 2022 to four and a half years, though his sentence was reduced by one year. In October 2024, the former Marine was sentenced to seven years and one month for refusing to follow the daily routine and for using physical violence against a prison employee. In April 2025, the sentence was increased by one year. Additionally, in December 2025, another court issued an additional two-year prison term against Gilman, who had been jailed three years earlier for assaulting a police officer. The former Marine was detained in January 2022 at the Voronezh train station.

He was detained in January 2022 while traveling by train through Voronezh, accused of assaulting a police officer. Based on facts observed and verified directly by our reporters or by informed sources. Russia has released former American Marine Robert Gilman, whose health is grave, after four years in detention, announced this Tuesday the Donald Trump Administration. "We celebrate Robert Gilman's return to the United States," a State Department spokesman told the press, who revealed that Steve Witkoff, Trump's special envoy, participated in the negotiations to secure his release. Gilman, 32, from Massachusetts, was detained in January 2022 while traveling by train through Voronezh in western Russia, accused of assaulting a police officer. Subsequently, charges were added for alleged assaults on prison staff, which raised his sentence to ten years in prison. The NGO Global Reach, which handles his case, told CBS that Gilman is "gravely ill and at risk of death" due to the abuse he suffered during his captivity, including forced labor, and said he was pressured to fight in Ukraine. Gilman will be evaluated and treated at a military hospital in Texas, the organization added. With this release, more than 100 Americans whom Washington considered kidnapped or unjustly detained abroad have regained their freedom during the Trump Administration, according to the State Department. The spokesman said the Government will continue working to secure the release of Stephen Hubbard, detained in Russia since 2022 and accused by Moscow of acting as a mercenary in the Ukraine war.

Former US Marine Robert Gilman, who serves a prison sentence for assaulting a Russian police officer in 2022, attends a court hearing in Voronezh, Russia, on April 6. (CNN) —American Robert Gilman was released from Russian detention for humanitarian reasons on Tuesday amid severe concerns about his health, multiple officials told CNN. Gilman, a 32-year-old former Marine, had been detained in Russia since 2022. US President Donald Trump said Tuesday he had spoken with Gilman, whose advocates and family had fearedwas “near death” after allegedly being subjected to physical and psychological torture. “After my discussions with President Vladimir Putin, Russia has agreed to release him, very much on a Humanitarian Basis,” Trump wrote in a Truth Social post Tuesday. According to a US official, Putin approved a pardon for Gilman. “We appreciate this decision, and the fact that Russia asked for no one in return — No exchange took place,” Trump added in his post. It is unclear when Trump and Putin spoke about the case. Kirill Dmitriev, a Kremlin special envoy and head of the Russian sovereign wealth fund, also said Tuesday that Gilman had been freed from detention “for humanitarian reasons.” Trump said that when he spoke with Gilman, “he had one request — A GREAT cheeseburger when he lands.” Gilman will arrive in the US on Tuesday at Joint Base Andrews outside of Washington, DC, Trump said, “where my Representatives, some of whom are on the plane with him, will welcome Robert back to THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA!” A US official told CNN that Gilman is receiving medical care and is being transported back to the United States on a specialized medical plane. His mother, who had traveled to Russia to try to see her son, is with him, according to Trump, the official, a source familiar with the matter, and Global Reach, the organization advocating on behalf of his family. The source familiar with the matter described Gilman as verbal, but non-ambulatory. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio welcomed Gilman’s release, but noted the administration is “still seeking the immediate return of all other unjustly detained Americans, including wrongful detainee Stephen Hubbard.” There are numerous other Americans who remain detained in Russia. Eric Lebson, the chief strategy officer of Global Reach, told CNN last week that Gilman had fallen into a “dissociative stupor” more than six weeks ago and there were concerns that he could die in Russian custody. A State Department spokesperson last week echoed that they were “deeply concerned” about his “health and continued detention in Russia.” Lebson said Tuesday that “it is too early to know Robert’s long-term medical prognosis.” After he lands back in the DC area, Gilman will likely head to a US military hospital in Texas, Global Reach said, “where he will be medically and psychologically assessed and treated.” Many Americans who have been designated as “wrongful detainees” have been treated at a military facility there after release. A State Department spokesperson said Tuesday that Gilman had been designated as wrongfully detained. Gilman’s sister, Lexie Hudson, expressed thanks to US President Donald Trump for “saving (her) brother’s life.” “There is no other reason that Robert is alive today other than that President Trump heard about the case and took action,” she said in a statement that also thanked Democratic Sen. Ed Markey. “I am looking forward to seeing Robert. I haven’t been able to speak with him once since this all began,” Hudson said. “We will make sure that he gets the treatment and support that he needs.” Gilman was arrested in January 2022. Russian officials alleged that he was drunk and got into an altercation with a police officer. Lebson denied that account, saying Gilman was hit by the police, got sick, and accidentally kicked the officer. Gilman was sentenced to four and a half years in prison. He is one of multiple former US Marines who have been arrested in Russia, including Trevor Reed andPaul Whelan. Numerous Americans remain detained in Russia, including Andre Khachatoorian, Olga Jezler, Chuck Zimmerman, David Barnes, Aleksander Antonov and Stephen Hubbard. The State Department spokesperson said Tuesday that they hope Gilman’s release “leads to the release of Americans unjustly held in Russia, such aswrongful detainee Stephen Hubbard.” The-CNN-Wire ™ & © 2026 Cable News Network, Inc., a Warner Bros. Discovery Company. All rights reserved. CNN’s Frederik Pleitgen and Aileen Graef contributed to this report.

Russia released former US Marine Robert Gilman from captivity on Tuesday, Aug. 11, freeing him from detention “for humanitarian reasons.” Gilman was found in extremely poor health, with Massachusetts Senator Edward Markey describing him as “essentially catatonic.” He was also battling a “severe case of pneumonia.” Gilman was flown on a US plane to Washington, DC, according to BBC News, citing Kirill Dmitriev, special envoy for Russian President Vladimir Putin. “Approximately 50 days ago, Robert was diagnosed with a dissociative stupor – a condition where he is non-responsive and unable to interact or eat,” Markey said in his official statement. Four-year ordeal in Russian custody Gilman, originally from Massachusetts, was 28 when Russian authorities arrested him for allegedly kicking a police officer while intoxicated aboard a train to Voronezh. He was sentenced to four-and-a-half years in prison, and his sentence was extended to 10 years in 2024 after Russian state media accused him of assaulting prison staff – a claim his family and advocacy groups have rejected. His father, Vladimir Gilman, has also denied the allegations. In 2024, he wrote an opinion piece explaining that his son became ill during the incident and accidentally kicked the officer, who was not injured and later dropped the complaint. “Throughout his detention, Robert was subjected to physical torture, forced medication, and provocations by Russian authorities,” Markey said. “There is no doubt that his treatment by Russian authorities is the reason Robert is in this precarious state today,” he continued. According to his family, Gilman was forcefully injected with mind-altering substances that eventually led to his current deteriorating mental state. Health crisis prompted urgent calls for release By late June, Gilman had been transferred from a prison hospital in the Voronezh region to the psychiatric ward of a civilian emergency hospital roughly 550 kilometers (about 342 miles) from Moscow, according to RBC-Ukraine. Advocacy group Global Reach and the Foley Foundation had warned on Aug. 7 that Gilman was near death, unable to communicate, and being fed through a tube, prompting the White House and State Department to press Moscow for his release on medical grounds. Family credits Trump for Gilman’s return According to Eric Lebson, chief strategy officer of the advocacy group Global Reach, Gilman’s family was denied access to visit him, despite Russian court orders allowing access. “I am more afraid for my brother than I have been since this horrible nightmare started,” Gilman’s sister, Lexie Hudson, said in her earlier statement. “There is no other reason that Robert is alive today, other than that [US] President [Donald] Trump heard about the case and took action,” she said on Tuesday, according to BBC News. Case had strained already tense relations Gilman was reportedly one of at least 10 Americans known to be held in Russian custody. His deteriorating condition had added to already strained US-Russia relations, burdened by the war in Ukraine and the Middle East conflict, as well as other diplomatic disputes. A source familiar with the matter told Reuters that US Secretary of State Marco Rubio raised Gilman’s case with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov during their meeting in Manila on July 23. The source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said it was unclear how Lavrov responded. “I urge the Trump administration to use Robert’s case as motivation to continue to advocate for the release of others wrongfully detained in Russia and around the world,” Markey said, wishing Gilman a recovery “from this nightmare.” You can also highlight the text and press Ctrl + Enter

Donald Trump announces the release of former Marine Robert Gilman after speaking with Vladimir Putin The President of the United States confirms that the former serviceman, held in Russia since 2022, arrives in Washington tonight The President of the United States, Donald Trump, has confirmed this Tuesday the return to the country of the former American serviceman Robert Gilman, who had remained detained on Russian territory since 2022. According to the details provided by the president himself, the release was achieved thanks to the recent diplomatic conversations he has held directly with his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin. Through a message posted on his social networks, the Republican leader expressed his satisfaction with the soldier’s return. “I am proud to announce that American citizen Robert Gilman, a former United States marine, is coming home,” he wrote. He also wanted to emphasize that this success was achieved without making concessions to Moscow. In this regard, he emphasized that the Russian decision was in response to “purely humanitarian” reasons and that the agreement did not require any prisoner swap between the two powers. The occupant of the White House took the opportunity to discreetly criticize the previous Democratic administration, recalling that Gilman was imprisoned “during the Biden Administration.” In contrast to that era, Trump boasted of his international leadership, claiming that under his administration the protection of U.S. citizens abroad has been an absolute priority. “We have done it at an unprecedented level, returning hundreds of people with their families,” the president said. Gilman’s arrival is expected for tonight, the same Tuesday. The flight will land at Andrews Air Force Base, located in Maryland and very close to Washington. Aboard the aircraft are some of the leading representatives of the U.S. government, who accompany the freed soldier’s mother, Nancy, in this eagerly anticipated reunion after years of judicial and penitentiary uncertainty on Russian soil. In his statement, Trump also thanked the Kremlin for this concession, about which Russian authorities have not yet issued any official statement. He also praised the work of his “incredible team” of aides. Among them, he specifically cited Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, his son-in-law Jared Kushner, the Special Envoy for Response to Kidnappings, Adam Boehler, and the Chief Strategic Terrorism Counterterrorism Officer, Sebastian Gorka. Gilman’s legal odyssey in Russia began in January 2022, when he was arrested at the Voronezh city train station on suspicion of assaulting a police officer. Subsequently, a Russian court imposed a sentence of four and a half years in prison, which was later reduced. However, his situation worsened considerably in October 2024, when he received a new sentence of seven years and one month for disobeying penitentiary center routine and using physical violence against an official. Throughout 2025, that country’s judiciary added another three years of imprisonment for similar reasons. Most Popular - Sánchez’s brother’s sentence denied prospective investigation: “The right to privacy has not been violated” - Montero’s SEPI refused to act against Plus Ultra despite reports of irregularities by Venezuelans - Former Trump ambassador to Spain defends Moroccan Sahara: “God bless Morocco” - Judicial blow to Mamdani: a judge blocks his luxury second-home tax in New York - The PP studies bringing Marlaska, Robles, and Albares before the TC for fleeing the Senate

A former U.S. Marine whose family said just days ago that he was near death in a Russian hospital has been freed after more than four years in custody and is on his way to a military hospital in Texas. Robert Gilman, 32, was released after Russian President Vladimir Putin approved a pardon on humanitarian grounds, U.S. officials told Reuters. He was being flown out of Russia on a State Department plane, and officials said he was walking and talking, a marked change from the condition his advocates had described only a week earlier. His family said he had been held for 1,666 days. "I am so grateful to President Trump for saving my brother's life," Gilman's sister, Lexie Hudson, said in a statement released by the family's advocates to Military.com. "There is no other reason that Robert is alive today other than that President Trump heard about the case and took action." From Russia to Texas The release followed a medical crisis that had, in the span of weeks, turned Gilman's case urgent. In late June, according to Global Reach, the nonprofit representing his family, Gilman fell into a dissociative stupor. This is a state in which he was unresponsive and unable to eat, and he was moved from a prison to the psychiatric ward of a civilian hospital in Voronezh. Last week, the group said, he developed a fever and dangerously high blood pressure. His mother traveled to Russia carrying a court order to see him but was turned away by hospital officials. Those reports, the family said, spurred the U.S. government to act. Secretary of State Marco Rubio had raised Gilman's case with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov during a meeting in the Philippines in July, according to a person familiar with the matter. In the days before the release, the State Department had told Military.com it was pressing Gilman's case. The U.S. government was "deeply concerned about Robert Gilman's health and continued detention in Russia," a State Department spokesperson said, and had "raised his case repeatedly with the Russian government and has requested his release on humanitarian grounds." After his release, U.S. officials said, Gilman was to be flown to Washington and then to San Antonio, Texas, for medical care. His family, including the mother who had been denied a visit in Russia, has flown to Texas to meet him. Eric Lebson, chief strategy officer of Global Reach, cautioned that Gilman's recovery is only beginning. "It is too early to know Robert's long-term medical prognosis," he said, adding that the family had asked for privacy as they reunite. The Family's Response For Hudson, the release ended years of fear. Only last week, before word of the pardon, she had told Military.com she was "more afraid for my brother than I have been since this horrible nightmare started" and worried that he would die in Russian custody. She had said she had not been able to speak with her brother once since his 2022 arrest. In statements released to Military.com after his freedom was secured, she thanked Sen. Ed Markey, a Massachusetts Democrat who had pressed his case in Congress, and the advocates who worked on it for years. She also gave voice to a lingering anger. "The Russians treated my brother so badly," she said. "They hurt him for no reason, other than that he was both an American and a Marine. What did they get out of this?" Lebson credited the release to officials across the U.S. government, including Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, Rubio, CIA Director John Ratcliffe and the State Department's office of the Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs. Who He Is, and How He Got Here Gilman, who is from Massachusetts and is the son of Russian emigrants, served in the Marine Corps for one year. He later became an English teacher. His lawyers had told Russian state media that he traveled to Russia to study and to seek citizenship. He was first detained in January 2022, after passengers reported he was drunk and causing a disturbance on a train. Transport police removed him in Voronezh, about 300 miles south of Moscow. He later told a court he believed his drink had been spiked. That October, a Russian court convicted him of assaulting a police officer and sentenced him to three and a half years. While in prison, Gilman was convicted of further assaults. In 2024, a court found him guilty of attacking a prison inspector, a state investigator and a guard, raising his sentence to eight years and one month. In December 2025, he was convicted of another assault on prison staff, and his sentence was increased to 10 years. Russian state media reported that Gilman pleaded guilty to those charges. According to the Kommersant newspaper, Gilman told a court he had acted out to avoid being transferred out of the Voronezh detention center, where he said he was treated well. His family has said the original case was a misunderstanding and that he should not have been imprisoned at all. Gilman was released through a humanitarian pardon rather than a finding that he was wrongfully held. The State Department had not designated him as wrongfully detained, a status that unlocks additional government support and that his family had said it was seeking. Five Americans Still Being Held Global Reach said in its statement that five other Americans it is assisting still remain imprisoned in Russia, each with deteriorating medical conditions: Aleksandr Antonov, David Barnes, Olga Jezler, Andre Khachatoorian and Chuck Zimmerman. The group urged the Trump administration to build on Gilman's release to bring the others home. "It is critical that the administration uses the momentum of Robert's release," Lebson said, "before it is too late." For Gilman, what comes next is a hospital in Texas, a family waiting to speak with him for the first time in more than four years. It’s the type of recovery his advocates say will take time to understand. "I am looking forward to seeing Robert," his sister said. "We will make sure that he gets the treatment and support that he needs."

A former U.S. Marine who spent more than four years in a Russian prison and is believed to be seriously ill has been released and was on his way back to the United States on Tuesday. President Donald Trump announced the release on Truth Social, saying Robert Gilman, 32, was freed after he discussed the case with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Trump said Gilman, a teacher, was released “very much on a Humanitarian Basis,” with no exchange of prisoners having taken place. He is expected to land at Andrews Air Force Base in Washington, D.C. The president added in his post that he had spoken to Gilman “and he had one request — A GREAT cheeseburger when he lands. I will take care of that!” The Russian government has not commented on the release. About 50 days ago, Gilman was diagnosed with a “dissociative stupor — a condition where he is non-responsive and unable to interact or eat,” Sen. Ed Markey, D-Mass., said in a statement following the man’s release. “He was essentially catatonic and also suffered a severe case of pneumonia,” added Markey, who has been campaigning for Gilman’s release. “We don’t yet know the full details of his current condition or the long-term impact on his recovery.” Gilman’s sister Lexie Hudson thanked Trump in a statement issued by Global Reach, an advocacy group representing his family. “There is no other reason that Robert is alive today other than that President Trump heard about the case and took action,” she said. “I am looking forward to seeing Robert. I haven’t been able to speak with him once since this all began,” she added. “We will make sure that he gets the treatment and support that he needs.” Russia releases former Marine after four years in prison Before his release, Hudson said in a statement Sunday that she was worried that he would die if he wasn’t freed. “I’m more afraid for my brother than I have been since this horrible nightmare started,” she said in the statement issued by Global Reach. Her comments Sunday came around a month after Russia’s Kommersant newspaper reported that Gilman had been admitted to a hospital. Quoting his lawyer Irina Brazhnikova, the business daily reported that he was receiving treatment but it was too early to talk about a diagnosis. Gilman, who served in the Marines from August 2019 until August 2020, had been detained in 2022. He was initially handed a 3 ½-year sentence for beating a police officer after being taken off a train for causing a disturbance. While serving his sentence, Gilman was accused in October 2024 of attacking a prison inspector during a cell check, beating an investigator and assaulting a guard; he was sentenced to eight years and one month. Last year, his sentence was extended again to 10 years after he was found guilty of assaulting prison guards. Gilman’s American supporters contend he was ill when he was first arrested and also that he was provoked while in prison into actions that led to further charges. According to Markey, Gilman was “subjected to physical torture, forced medication, and provocations by Russian authorities” throughout his detention. “There is no doubt that his treatment by Russian authorities is the reason Robert is in this precarious state today,” he added. Gilman was one of at least 10 Americans known to be imprisoned in Russia.

WASHINGTON, Aug 11 (Reuters) - Russia on Tuesday freed a former American Marine who had been jailed in the country since 2022, U.S. President Donald Trump said. In a social media post, Trump said Russia agreed to release Robert Gilman, 32, for humanitarian reasons after discussions with Russian President Vladimir Putin, adding that the ailing American would arrive at Joint Base Andrews near Washington on Tuesday night. Sign up here. "I am proud to announce that American Citizen Robert Gilman, a former United States Marine, is coming HOME!" Trump said. "We appreciate this decision, and the fact that Russia asked for no one in return — No exchange took place." The White House and the State Department had urged Moscow to release Gilman so he could receive medical treatment in the United States. U.S. officials said Putin approved a pardon for him. Gilman was being held in a prison in Voronezh, about 340 miles (550 kilometers) south of Moscow. The exact circumstances of his health are unclear. But Eric Lebson, chief strategy officer of Global Reach, an advocacy group representing Gilman's family, told Reuters last week that Gilman was moved in late June from the prison hospital to the psychiatric ward of a civilian emergency hospital in a catatonic-like state assessed as a "dissociative stupor." A U.S. official who spoke to Gilman said he was walking and talking. "All things considered he seems to be in good shape," the official said. Trump's post included a photo of a gaunt-looking man on a plane surrounded by a group of smiling people carrying an American flag. The president said he had spoken to Gilman, who requested a cheeseburger upon landing. "I will take care of that!" Trump said. Gilman will be evaluated on the flight by four doctors, said the U.S. officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity. After that, Gilman is likely to be flown to a rehabilitation center in San Antonio, Texas, for medical treatment, the officials said. ARRESTED OVER POLICE OFFICER INCIDENT Gilman, who served in the U.S. Marines from August 2019 until August 2020, was traveling by train when he was arrested in January 2022 in Voronezh, Lebson said. He was detained for allegedly kicking a police officer while drunk, according to Russian state media. However, his father, Vladimir Gilman, who emigrated to Massachusetts from Russia, wrote in an October 2024 Boston Globe op-ed that the charges were false. His son, he said, had fallen ill when the incident occurred and accidentally kicked the officer. The officer was uninjured, dropped the charges, and did not present evidence at Gilman's trial, he wrote. Robert Gilman was sentenced to 4-1/2 years in jail. He was one of at least 10 Americans known to be imprisoned in Russia. The U.S. officials said a Russian senior official, Yuri Ushakov, informed Trump aides last week that Putin had agreed to sign a decree pardoning Gilman for humanitarian purposes, given Putin's friendship with the president. The release resulted from intense negotiations over the weekend by U.S. and Russian officials. The U.S. did not exchange any Russian prisoners in order to gain Gilman's release and no concessions were made, the officials said. "It's a goodwill gesture," one official said. Trump thanked U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff, senior director for counterterrorism Sebastian Gorka, his son-in-law Jared Kushner, and U.S. special envoy for hostage response Adam Boehler for making the release possible. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Gilman is among 100 U.S. citizens whose freedom Trump has helped secure during his second term in office. Rubio said the U.S. appreciated the "positive step," but called for the release of other Americans who he said were unjustly detained in Russia, including Stephen Hubbard. Hubbard, a retired schoolteacher, was sentenced in October 2024 to almost seven years in a penal colony after a court found him guilty of serving in a Ukrainian territorial defense unit against Russian forces, tasked with manning a checkpoint. Hubbard denied the charge. Reporting by Steve Holland and Jonathan Landay; Additional reporting by Simon Lewis, Ismail Shakil and Ryan Patrick Jones; Editing by Caitlin Webber and Rosalba O'Brien Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Russia has freed a former US marine who had been in jail since 2022, after Vladimir Putin granted the ailing American a pardon on humanitarian grounds. Robert Gilman, 32, an English teacher who briefly served in the US Marines, was travelling by train when he was arrested in the southern Russian city of Voronezh in January 2022 for allegedly kicking a police officer while drunk, according to Russian state media. He was later sentenced to four and a half years in prison, though his family has consistently denied the allegations against him. His father, Vladimir Gilman, who emigrated to Massachusetts from Russia, wrote in an October 2024 Boston Globe op-ed that his son had fallen ill when the incident occurred and had accidentally kicked the police officer. Concerns over Gilman’s health had grown sharply in recent weeks, and the White House and the state department had urged Moscow to release him so he could receive medical treatment in the US. Eric Lebson, chief strategy officer at Global Reach, an advocacy group representing Gilman’s family, told Reuters last week that he had been transferred in late June from a prison hospital to the psychiatric ward of a civilian emergency hospital in a catatonic-like state that doctors assessed as a “dissociative stupor”. US president Donald Trump claimed he had spoken directly to his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin about the issue, leading to Gilman’s release. “I am proud to announce that American citizen Robert Gilman, a former United States Marine, is coming HOME!” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “After my discussions with President Vladimir Putin, Russia has agreed to release him, very much on a humanitarian basis,” Trump added. US officials told Reuters that Gilman was already on a state department plane carrying him from Russia to Washington Dulles airport, adding that Gilman would be greeted on arrival by US envoy Steve Witkoff and Sebastian Gorka, a deputy assistant to President Trump. The official who spoke to Gilman said he was walking and talking. “All things considered, he seems to be in good shape,” the official said. Trump stressed on social media that Russia had not sought the release of anyone in return. “No exchange took place,” he wrote. It is highly unusual for Russia to free a jailed US citizen without securing a prisoner in return. The decision to release Gilman is therefore likely to be seen as a signal of Moscow’s eagerness to improve relations with the Trump administration, after several weeks in which the US president has appeared to shift towards a more supportive position on Ukraine. Shortly after Trump returned to office, Washington secured the release of American schoolteacher Marc Fogel from a Russian prison in exchange for a Russian national jailed in the US on money-laundering charges. Gilman was one of at least 10 Americans known to be imprisoned in Russia.

Aug. 11 (UPI) --Robert Gilman, a formerU.S. Marine, was released from detention in Russia and was on his way back to the United States on Tuesday. Gilman, 32, was held in a Russian prison for more than four years and was released amid severe concerns for his health,CNN reported. Advocates for Gilman and members of his family feared he was "near death" after alleged physical and psychological torture. U.S. PresidentDonald Trumpsaidin a social media postthat he discussed the case with Russian President Vladimir Putin, who agreed to release Gilman on a humanitarian basis. "We appreciate this decision, and the fact that Russia asked for no one in return -- no exchange took place," Trump wrote. He said he spoke with Gilman, who had one request: "a GREAT cheeseburger when he lands." Gilman is expected to arrive later Tuesday at Joint Base Andrews near Washington, D.C. He will likely go then to a U.S. military hospital in Texas to be treated and assessed, said Global Reach, an organization advocating on the behalf of Gilman's family. Sen.Edward J. Markey, D-Mass., whose office has worked with Gilman's family and campaigned for his release,said that Gilman was diagnosedabout 50 days ago with "a dissociative stupor -- a condition where he is non-responsive and unable to interact or eat." "He was essentially catatonic and also suffered a severe case of pneumonia," Markey said in a statement. "We don't yet know the full details of his current condition or the long-term impact on his recovery." Russian authorities initially arrested Gilman for allegedly beating a police officer in January 2022,NBC News reported. He was given a 3 ½-year sentence that was extended several times to 10 years for allegedly attacking prison guards. His supporters deny the allegations. Markey said the news of Gilman's release was deeply welcomed but overdue. "It is a tragedy that it took Robert's near-death condition for his case to receive the attention that it required for his release to be negotiated," he said. "Throughout his detention, Robert was subjected to physical torture, forced medication and provocations by Russian authorities. There is no doubt that his treatment by Russian authorities is the reason Robert is in this precarious state today." Gilman was one of at least 10 U.S. citizens known to be imprisoned in Russia.

US Marine Robert Gilman released after 4 years in Russian prison President Donald Trump announced Gilman’s release. He said the 32-year-old is expected to land in Washington, DC, the evening of Tuesday, Aug. 11. A former Marine held in a Russian prison since 2022 has been released and is headed back to the United States, President Donald Trump announced Tuesday, Aug. 11. Robert Gilman, a U.S. citizen from Lowell, Massachusetts, is facing a series of health complications, according to those who advocated for his release. The 32-year-old was imprisoned for four years and subjected to torture that has left him in an "essentially catatonic" state, said U.S. Sen. Ed Markey. "I am proud to announce that American Citizen Robert Gilman, a former United States Marine, is coming HOME!" Trump said on Truth Social on Aug. 11. "I just spoke to him, and he had one request — A GREAT cheeseburger when he lands. I will take care of that!" The former Marine was originally sentenced on charges of assaulting a police officer while drunk. Gilman previously said he does not remember an assault and apologized. Markey said the charges were "questionable." Critics of Russian President Vladimir Putin have called Gilman’s imprisonment an example of the leader imprisoning Westerners on trumped up charges in an effort to acquire political bargaining chips, a practice sometimes called "hostage diplomacy." Some experts point to WNBA star Brittney Griner, who was detained in Russia on the eve of the country’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, as perhaps the most famous example of the practice. Trump credited Putin with releasing Gilman on a "Humanitarian Basis." USA TODAY has reached out to the White House for comment on Gilman’s condition. The president also posted a photo apparently showing Gilman on the flight back to the United States. He appears pale and thin, and is surrounded by several people holding up an American flag. The president said Gilman’s mother is with him on the flight. Gilman is expected to land at Joint Base Andrews near Washington, DC, in the evening before continuing on to Texas where he will receive medical treatment. Release comes after severe medical diagnosis Gilman’s release comes several months ahead of the end of the 4.5 years in prison he was originally sentenced to serve. "After my discussions with President Vladimir Putin, Russia has agreed to release him, very much on a Humanitarian Basis," Trump said in a post on social media. "We appreciate this decision, and the fact that Russia asked for no one in return — No exchange took place." According to Markey, Gilman’s severely deteriorating health conditions precipitated his release. The Massachusetts Democrat said Gilman was diagnosed 50 days ago with "dissociative stupor– a condition where he is non-responsive and unable to interact or eat." The condition has left Gilman "essentially catatonic," Markey said. "We don’t yet know the full details of his current condition or the long-term impact on his recovery. I’m grateful that Robert is now on his way back to the United States to receive the life-saving care that he desperately needs," he continued. "It is a tragedy that it took Robert’s near-death condition for his case to receive the attention that it required for his release to be negotiated." Markey laid the blame for Gilman’s condition on his jailers: "Throughout his detention, Robert was subjected to physical torture, forced medication, and provocations by Russian authorities. There is no doubt that his treatment by Russian authorities is the reason Robert is in this precarious state today." Other Americans remain imprisoned Top officials celebrated Gilman’s release and that of other Americans who have come home during the second Trump administration. But they said they are working to secure the release of others "unjustly detained." "While we appreciate this positive step, we are still seeking the immediate return of all other unjustly detained Americans, including wrongful detainee Stephen Hubbard," Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in a statement. "The President will not stop until all unjustly detained Americans are home." Hubbard is an American sentenced to a Russian penal colony on charges that he served in Ukrainian defense forces amid Russia’s invasion of the country. The retired school teacher has said he is innocent of the charges and was not serving in Ukrainian forces. According to Global Reach, an advocacy group that supported Gilman’s release, others who remain imprisoned in Russia are: U.S. Navy veteran Chuck Zimmerman, Aleksandr Antonov, Olga Jezler, Andre Khachatoorian and David Barnes. Eric Lebson, a chief strategy officer at Global Reach, said all five are suffering severe issues in prison in Russia. "We don’t want to have to see things get to the point that the Gilman case was before action is taken," Lebson told USA TODAY. "These are all heading in that direction." Others to be recently returned include Marc Fogel, a history teacher from Pennsylvania who taught at a school in Moscow. Fogel was imprisoned in 2021, sentenced to 14 years on charges of possessing marijuana. He was released in February 2025. Contributing: Francesca Chambers, Reuters

The Trump Administration achieves the release of Robert Gilman, who has been imprisoned in Russia since 2022 Donald Trump confirmed talks with Vladimir Putin to secure the release of this former marine. He was convicted in Russia for acts of violence. The State Department (USDOS) confirmed the release of former Marine Robert Gilman, who had been imprisoned in Russia since 2022 accused of acts of violence, without having to concede anything in return. Gilman was sentenced by Russian justice to four and a half years in prison in 2022. That sentence was extended to ten years for allegedly behaving violently toward prison staff. In a statement, the U.S. diplomacy office announced that Gilman was released so he could receive medical treatment in the country. "After more than four years of detention in Russia, Robert Gilman is returning home to reunite with his family. Mr. Gilman joins the more than 100 Americans whom President Trump has freed during his second term," the USDOS said, adding the relevance of Special Envoy Steve Witkoff's involvement in managing the case. Furthermore, the department led by Secretary Marco Rubio confirmed that the Trump Administration continues to push for the immediate return of all other Americans unjustly detained. Trump acknowledges negotiations with Putin to free Gilman Regarding this case, President Donald Trump acknowledged having dialogued with Vladimir Putin to secure Gilman’s release. "Following my conversations with President Vladimir Putin, Russia has agreed to release him, for purely humanitarian reasons. We appreciate this decision and the fact that Russia did not demand anything in return," Trump wrote on Truth Social, adding as an anecdote that the only thing Gilman has asked for is "a good cheeseburger" when he lands in the country. Gilman will land in the next few hours at Andrews Air Force Base (Washington, D.C.), where he will be greeted by his family and representatives of the Trump Administration.