Russia released Robert Gilman, a 32-year-old Massachusetts teacher and former Marine, following what his family and U.S. officials describe as four years of wrongful incarceration. President Donald Trump announced the release on his Truth Social platform, stating that he had spoken with Russian President Vladimir Putin about the case and characterizing it as occurring on a humanitarian basis. Trump noted that Russia did not request any prisoner exchange in return for Gilman’s freedom.
Gilman was detained in 2022 on charges of beating a police officer after being removed from a train for disruptive behavior. He was convicted and initially sentenced to 3.5 years. He subsequently faced additional charges related to incidents in prison, including allegations of attacking a prison inspector, investigator, and guards. His sentence was extended to 10 years following a conviction for assaulting prison guards in December. Russian media reported that Gilman had pleaded guilty to the charges and apologized to the guards involved. His father disputed the charges, and the State Department determined that Gilman was wrongfully detained.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio released a photograph showing Gilman in poor health, draped in an American flag aboard an airplane. According to Global Reach, an organization working on behalf of detained Americans, Gilman’s condition had deteriorated significantly, including a 47-day period of dissociative stupor and subsequent hospitalization on a feeding tube while handcuffed to a bed. Gilman was scheduled to arrive at Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland for transport to a military hospital in Texas for medical and psychological assessment.
Sen. Ed Markey of Massachusetts, along with Trump, received credit from Gilman’s family for facilitating his release. Markey stated that Gilman’s case warranted earlier attention and attributed his poor health to treatment by Russian authorities. The release comes as arrests of Americans in Russia have become increasingly common, with concerns raised that Russian officials may be targeting U.S. nationals for use as leverage in negotiations. Five other Americans remain imprisoned in Russia with reported medical complications, according to Global Reach.
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