Robert Gilman, a former US Marine from Massachusetts and English teacher, has been released from a Russian prison after being detained since January 2022. President Vladimir Putin granted the 32-year-old a pardon on humanitarian grounds. Following his release on Tuesday, Gilman was sent to a US military hospital in Texas to receive urgent medical treatment.
Gilman was arrested in the southern Russian city of Voronezh after an incident on a train, where he was accused of kicking and assaulting a police officer while drunk. He was subsequently sentenced to four and a half years in prison. However, his family consistently denied the allegations, and the US government recently designated him as wrongfully detained.
Advocacy groups and family members reported that Gilman had been held under abusive conditions and was in dire physical health. He had been deteriorating rapidly and was described as being in a catatonic state, with reports indicating he was gravely ill and at risk of dying.
President Donald Trump confirmed the release and expressed appreciation to Putin. US officials clarified that the release was not part of any prisoner exchange, and no Russian prisoners were traded to secure Gilman's freedom.