Robert Gilman, a 32-year-old Massachusetts teacher and former U.S. Marine, was released from Russian custody on Tuesday, ending four years of what his family and U.S. officials characterize as a wrongful incarceration marked by abusive treatment that left him in a near-death state. His release followed a direct conversation between President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin.
According to President Trump, the decision was made on a humanitarian basis, and he emphasized that no prisoner exchange took place, stating that Russia asked for no one in return.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio shared an image on social media showing a gaunt-looking Gilman draped in an American flag and surrounded by his family aboard an airplane. While acknowledging the positive development, Secretary Rubio stated that the U.S. government remains committed to seeking the immediate return of all other unjustly detained Americans.
President Trump noted that Gilman was expected to arrive at Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland on Tuesday evening. In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump mentioned that he had spoken with Gilman, who had one specific request: a great cheeseburger upon landing, which the President promised to provide.
Following his arrival, Gilman is scheduled to be transported to a military hospital in Texas. Eric Lebson, the chief strategy officer for the advocacy group Global Reach, confirmed that the veteran will undergo comprehensive medical and psychological assessments and treatment. According to Lebson, Gilman had been held in the psychiatric ward of a civilian hospital since early July.
Before his departure from Russia, Gilman had been in a state of dissociative stupor for 47 days due to the abuse he suffered while in prison. During his time in the hospital, he was reportedly hooked up to a feeding tube and handcuffed to a bed. Hospital reports had conveyed his condition as dire and life-threatening, a factor that pushed the U.S. government into urgent action.
Gilman’s legal troubles in Russia began in 2022 when he was detained after being removed from a train for allegedly causing a disturbance. He was subsequently convicted of beating a police officer and handed a 3.5-year sentence. His time in custody saw several extensions; in October 2024, he was sentenced to eight years and one month following convictions for assaulting a prison inspector, beating an investigator, and assaulting a guard.
In December, his sentence was further extended to 10 years after he was found guilty of assaulting prison guards. While Russian media reported that Gilman pleaded guilty to these charges and apologized to the guards, his father has consistently disputed the charges, and the U.S. State Department officially determined that Gilman was wrongfully detained.
Gilman’s sister, Lexie Hudson, credited President Trump and U.S. Senator Ed Markey of Massachusetts with facilitating his release. Hudson stated that there was no other reason her brother is alive today other than the fact that President Trump intervened. She expressed deep frustration over the treatment her brother endured, noting that he was targeted for no reason other than being an American and a Marine.
Senator Markey, who had long campaigned for Gilman’s release, condemned the Russian authorities for the conditions that left the veteran in such a precarious state.
Markey stated that it was a tragedy that it took a near-death condition for the case to receive the attention required for his release to be negotiated. He further alleged that throughout his detention, Gilman was subjected to physical torture, forced medication, and provocations by Russian authorities.
The release of Gilman highlights ongoing concerns regarding the detention of U.S. nationals in Russia, as arrests of Americans have become increasingly common in recent years. There is growing concern that Russia may be targeting U.S. nationals to use as bargaining chips in future negotiations. According to a news release from Global Reach, five other Americans remain imprisoned in Russia with deteriorating medical issues.
Russian officials did not immediately comment on the release, and the Federal Penitentiary Service did not respond to requests for comment regarding the allegations of deteriorating health behind bars.
