Former Marine held in Russia for more than 4 years has been released

A former U.S. Marine who spent more than four years in a Russian prison on disputed charges and is believed to be seriously ill, has been released and is on his way back to the United States, President Donald Trump said Tuesday.

“I am proud to announce that American Citizen Robert Gilman, a former United States Marine, is coming HOME!” Trump said in a Truth Social post, adding that he has discussed the released with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Gilman had been freed “very much on a Humanitarian Basis,” he said, adding that no exchange had taken place.

Senator Ed Markey, D-Mass., said in an earlier statement that Gilman was gravely ill, and had been diagnosed with a “dissociative stupor — a condition where he is non-responsive and unable to interact or eat” about 50 days ago.

“He was essentially catatonic and also suffered a severe case of pneumonia. We don’t yet know the full details of his current condition or the long-term impact on his recovery,” added Markey, who has been campaigning for Gilman’s release.

Gilman, 32, was detained since 2022 and initially handed a three-and-a-half year sentence in 2022 when he was convicted of beating a police officer after being taken off a train for causing a disturbance.

After his initial conviction, Gilman was accused 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.

Last year his sentence was extended again to 10 years after he was found guilty of assaulting prison guards.

He was one of at least 10 Americans known to be imprisoned in Russia.

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