Former US Marine Robert Gilman was released from Russian imprisonment on humanitarian grounds, according to an announcement by the US State Department on Tuesday. The 32-year-old, whose health had deteriorated sharply in recent months, was freed without a prisoner exchange, US officials confirmed. According to reporting by Reuters, Russian President Vladimir Putin pardoned Gilman, ending an incarceration that began in January 2022.
Health Deterioration and Medical Evacuation From Voronezh
Gilman was transported from a prison in Voronezh to a hospital before boarding an aircraft bound for the United States. According to his relatives, Gilman entered a state of dissociative stupor starting in June. Prior to his release, Gilman had complained of torture and the injection of mind-altering substances while behind bars. The White House and the State Department actively pushed for his freedom to secure necessary medical treatment in the US.
Timeline of Criminal Charges and Prison Sentences
Gilman was initially arrested in January 2022 after being removed from a train for disorderly conduct while under the influence of alcohol. In October 2022, a Russian court sentenced him to 3.5 years in prison for striking a police officer. Subsequent legal actions extended his time behind bars. In October 2024, he received an eight-year and one-month sentence following convictions for attacking a prison inspector during a cell check, beating an investigator, and assaulting a guard. Another conviction for assaulting prison guards last year pushed his total sentence to 10 years.
US Government and Family Response
The US State Department maintains that Gilman was deprived of his liberty unjustifiably. His father, an emigrant from the former Soviet Union, previously detailed his objections in an article for the Boston Globe, calling the charges against his son false.
Did you know?
Efforts to secure Robert Gilman’s release involved high-level diplomatic engagement by the White House and the State Department specifically focused on medical repatriation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why was Robert Gilman released from Russia?
According to the US State Department, Gilman was released on humanitarian grounds due to a sharp deterioration in his health. No prisoner exchange took place.
Was Robert Gilman involved in a prisoner swap?
No. The US State Department explicitly emphasized that no prisoner exchange occurred, and Reuters reported that Russian President Vladimir Putin issued a pardon.
What were the charges against Robert Gilman?
Gilman was originally convicted in 2022 of striking a police officer after being removed from a train. His sentence was later extended following subsequent convictions for assaulting prison guards, an inspector, and an investigator—charges his family and the US government have contested.
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