In a high-profile cross-border humanitarian move that draws direct attention to U.S.-Russia detainee relations, Moscow has freed a former American Marine who had been imprisoned on Russian soil since 2022, after reports emerged that his health had deteriorated to a life-threatening state. The released man, Robert Gilman, a 30-year-old native of Massachusetts, was cleared for release “from detention for humanitarian reasons” according to Kirill Dmitriev, special envoy for Russian President Vladimir Putin. By Tuesday, Gilman was already en route to Washington, D.C. aboard a U.S. government aircraft, Dmitriev confirmed.
Gilman was first taken into Russian custody in 2022 at the age of 28. At the time of his arrest, he was intoxicated while traveling on a train bound for Moscow, and faced charges for assaulting a local police officer during the incident. In the weeks leading up to his release, his health declined sharply, prompting urgent intervention from U.S. political leaders. Massachusetts Senator Ed Markey, who had advocated for Gilman’s release, shared grave details of his condition on social media prior to the announcement: before the release, Gilman was “essentially catatonic” while fighting a severe case of pneumonia, Markey reported. Around 50 days before his freedom, Gilman received a diagnosis of dissociative stupor, a neurological condition that left him unresponsive, unable to interact with others, and incapable of eating independently, Markey added. As of the release announcement, Markey noted that full details of Gilman’s current stable health status were still emerging.
Multiple medical professionals have been assigned to care for Gilman during his flight back to U.S. territory, Reuters confirmed. A senior unnamed U.S. official told reporters that initial assessments show “he seems to be in good shape” after the transfer. Per CBS News, the U.S. news partner of the BBC, Gilman’s family has gathered at a military medical facility in Texas to await his arrival for ongoing treatment.
In a public statement following the release, Gilman’s sister Lexie Hudson credited former U.S. President Donald Trump for securing her brother’s freedom. “I am so grateful to President Trump for saving my brother’s life,” Hudson said. “There is no other reason that Robert is alive today other than that President Trump heard about the case and took action.”