Russia frees ex-US Marine Robert Gilman from detention | Human Rights News
US Marine Released from Russian Detention After Four Years
Published on August 11, 2026
A former U.S. Marine, Robert Gilman, has been freed from Russian custody and is set to return to the United States after being held for four years. Gilman, 32, was detained in January 2022 following an alleged altercation with a police officer in Voronezh.
President Donald Trump announced via his Truth Social platform that Gilman is expected to arrive at Andrews Air Force Base near Washington, D.C., on Tuesday evening. Trump indicated that Russian President Vladimir Putin agreed to Gilman’s release on a “humanitarian basis” without any prisoners being exchanged.
The U.S. government had previously urged Moscow to release Gilman to receive necessary medical treatment. He was incarcerated in a prison located approximately 550 kilometers (340 miles) south of Moscow, though specifics regarding his health status remain unclear.
A U.S. official who spoke with Gilman reported that he was walking and talking, noting, “All things considered, he seems to be in good shape.” Several doctors will assess his condition during the return flight. Gilman’s mother, Nina, is accompanying him back to the U.S.
President Trump mentioned that a team of officials worked on securing Gilman’s release, including Adam Boehler, the administration’s envoy for hostage negotiations, and senior advisers Jared Kushner, Steve Witkoff, and Sebastian Gorka. Upon arrival, Gilman is slated to be taken to a rehabilitation center in San Antonio, Texas, for further medical treatment.
U.S. Senator Ed Markey, who collaborated with Gilman’s family to facilitate his release, described the Marine’s condition as “near-death” in a statement. He revealed that Gilman had suffered from severe pneumonia and had entered a catatonic state. Markey noted that Gilman’s detention involved allegations of physical torture and forced medication.
Gilman served in the U.S. Marine Corps from August 2019 until August 2020. His arrest in January 2022 occurred while he was traveling by train. According to Russian state media, he was charged with kicking a police officer while under the influence of alcohol. However, Gilman’s father, Vladimir, disputed these claims in an op-ed for the Boston Globe, asserting that his son had fallen ill during the incident and inadvertently kicked the officer, who was uninjured and later dropped the charges.
Initially sentenced to four and a half years in prison, Gilman’s sentence was extended multiple times due to additional allegations of misconduct while incarcerated. The U.S. government recently classified him as wrongfully detained, marking him as one of at least 10 Americans currently imprisoned in Russia.
