Former Marine Robert Gilman, 32, has been released after being held in Russia since 2022 and his family says he’s in “dire” condition.
Robert Gilman, a U.S. citizen and former Marine, has been freed from detention in Russia on humanitarian grounds, a State Department spokesperson confirmed Tuesday. Robert Gilman has been reunited with his wonderful mother, Nancy, who is also on the plane with him, and will soon get to see all of his loved ones.
A State Department plane carrying Mr Gilman arrived at Dulles airport on the outskirts of Washington late Tuesday, and special envoy Steve Witkoff greeted him at Dulles with hamburgers and milkshakes. The official who spoke to Gilman said he was walking and talking, and “all things considered, he seems to be in good shape.”
A plane carrying 32-year-old Robert Gilman landed at Kelly Airfield around 2 a.m. Wednesday, bringing him back to U.S. soil following his release from Russian custody, and Gilman is expected to receive medical and psychological care at Brooke Army Medical Center.
Russian President Vladimir Putin granted him a pardon on humanitarian grounds following intense weekend negotiations. Mr. Trump said Russian President Vladimir Putin agreed to release Robert Gilman on a “humanitarian basis” and that “Russia asked for no one in return” and “no exchange took place.”
Trump said Gilman will arrive at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland on Tuesday night, and “I just spoke to him, and he had one request — A GREAT cheeseburger when he lands. I will take care of that!”
Gilman’s sister Lexie Hudson said “I am so grateful to President Trump for saving my brother’s life. There is no other reason that Robert is alive today other than that President Trump heard about the case and took action.”
Hudson added “I am looking forward to seeing Robert. I haven’t been able to speak with him once since this all began. We will make sure that he gets the treatment and support that he needs.”
Hudson accused Russian authorities of severely mistreating her brother during his imprisonment, saying “The Russians treated my brother so badly. They hurt him for no reason, other than that he was both an American and a Marine.”
She also thanked Senator Ed Markey “for leading our advocacy efforts in Congress.”
About 50 days ago, Gilman was diagnosed with a “dissociative stupor — a condition where he is non-responsive and unable to interact or eat,” Sen. Ed Markey said, adding “He was essentially catatonic and also suffered a severe case of pneumonia.”
Concerns about his health increased after he was transferred from a prison hospital to a civilian hospital in Voronezh on June 30, when hospital officials described his condition as “dire and life-threatening.”
On June 30, Robert was moved from his prison hospital to a civilian hospital in Voronezh, and “Reports received from hospital officials conveyed Robert’s status as dire and life-threatening.”
Before he was flown out of Russia, he had been in “a dissociative stupor” for 47 days due to the abuse he has suffered in prison, according to Eric Lebson.
Eric Lebson, chief strategy officer of Global Reach, cautioned that Gilman’s recovery is only beginning, saying “It is too early to know Robert’s long-term medical prognosis,” and the family had asked for privacy as they reunite.
In the viral moment that sparked international concern, Gilman, now 32 years old, had been detained since 2022 and was sentenced to four and a half years in a prison colony after being accused of fighting with a Russian police officer at a train station. Gilman was in Moldova to teach and was visiting family outside of Moscow when he fell ill and was then accused of kicking a police officer.
He later was convicted of attacking a prison inspector during a cell check, beating an investigator and assaulting a guard, sentenced in October 2024 to eight years and one month, with his sentence extended last year to 10 years after he was found guilty of assaulting prison guards. Gilman’s family deny the charges and have accused the Russian authorities of wrongfully detaining him for political purposes because he is American.
According to the “Free Robert Gilman” website, Gilman served in the U.S. Marine Corps and also founded “Robert Gilman Just English” to help students in Poland build their English skills.
Gilman served in the Marines from August 2019 until August 2020.
Gilman, a Massachusetts resident, is expected to be taken to San Antonio, Texas for treatment at a military hospital.