Russia frees ailing ex-US Marine Robert Gilman after President Vladimir Putin approved a humanitarian pardon following discussions with US President Donald Trump, ending more than four years of Russian detention.
Robert Gilman Returns to the United States
Robert Gilman, 32, was flown back to the United States on a State Department aircraft and arrived at Dulles International Airport near Washington on Tuesday.
According to Reuters, the release followed negotiations involving American and Russian officials, with US officials saying Russia sought no prisoner exchange or concessions in return for Gilman’s freedom.
US special envoy Steve Witkoff helped negotiate the release and was among those who welcomed Gilman after his arrival. He reportedly brought hamburgers and milkshakes for the former Marine.
Trump said Russia agreed to release Gilman for humanitarian reasons following discussions with Putin.
The president also said he had spoken with Gilman, who requested a cheeseburger after landing in the United States. Trump responded: “I will take care of that!”
Witkoff thanked Putin for approving the pardon and for his personal involvement in the process.
Why Was Robert Gilman Detained?
Gilman, who served in the US Marines from August 2019 until August 2020, was arrested in Voronezh in January 2022 while travelling by train.
Russian state media reported that he had been accused of kicking a police officer while drunk. He was subsequently sentenced to four-and-a-half years in prison.
However, Gilman’s father disputed the allegations, saying his son had become ill during the incident and accidentally kicked the officer.
His father also maintained that the officer was not injured, had dropped the charges and did not present evidence against Gilman during the trial.
Concerns Over Gilman’s Health
Gilman’s health reportedly deteriorated significantly during his imprisonment, increasing pressure on US officials to secure his release.
Eric Lebson, chief strategy officer of Global Reach, an advocacy group representing Gilman’s family, said Gilman was transferred in late June from a prison hospital to the psychiatric ward of a civilian emergency hospital.
He was reportedly in a condition described as a “dissociative stupor.”
US officials later offered a more positive assessment following his release, saying Gilman was able to walk and talk.
One US official who spoke with him said: “All things considered, he seems to be in good shape.”
Four doctors were expected to evaluate Gilman during his flight to the United States.
After arriving at Dulles, he was expected to travel to a rehabilitation centre in San Antonio, Texas, where he would receive further medical treatment.
Trump Administration Welcomes Release
The release of Robert Gilman comes amid continued diplomatic engagement between Washington and Moscow despite tensions surrounding Russia’s war in Ukraine.
US officials said Putin approved a pardon for Gilman on humanitarian grounds after Russian senior official Yuri Ushakov informed Trump aides of the decision.
The release followed intense negotiations between American and Russian officials over the weekend.
According to US officials, the United States did not exchange any Russian prisoners to secure Gilman’s freedom, while Russia made no demand for concessions.
One US official described the decision simply as a “goodwill gesture.”
Trump thanked Witkoff, senior director for counterterrorism Sebastian Gorka, his son-in-law Jared Kushner and US special envoy for hostage response Adam Boehler for their roles in securing Gilman’s release.
Rubio Calls for Release of Other Americans
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio welcomed Gilman’s return while calling for Russia to release other Americans who remain detained in the country.
Rubio said Gilman was among about 100 US citizens whose freedom Trump had helped secure during his second term.
He described Gilman’s release as a “positive step” but urged Moscow to free other Americans, including Stephen Hubbard.
Hubbard, a retired schoolteacher, was sentenced in October 2024 to almost seven years in a penal colony after being convicted of serving in a Ukrainian territorial defence unit.
Hubbard has denied the allegation.
For Gilman’s family, the immediate priority is now his recovery after years in Russian detention. His return to the United States allows him to receive medical care closer to his family and begin rehabilitation.
The case also underscores the continuing importance of diplomatic negotiations in securing the release of Americans detained abroad.
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For now, Gilman is back on American soil, with his attention expected to turn from the circumstances of his imprisonment to his health, rehabilitation and reunion with his family.
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