Archive · 12 Aug 2026
Russia releases former US Marine Robert Gilman on humanitarian grounds
Robert Gilman is a man from the United States who used to be a Marine and taught English.
In January 2022, Russian police arrested him while he was on a train in Russia.
They said he kicked a police officer, but his family said he was sick and had hurt his head.
His punishment started at three and a half years but grew to ten years.
While in prison, Robert became very sick.
He lost a lot of weight and became barely able to respond to people.
He also got pneumonia and needed a feeding tube.
Leaders of Russia and the United States talked about him, and Russia let him go because he was so sick.
No one else was given back in exchange.
Now he is flying home to get special medical care.
Former US Marine Robert Gilman, 32, has been released after more than four years in Russian detention.
US President Donald Trump said Vladimir Putin granted Gilman a unilateral humanitarian pardon, not part of a prisoner exchange.
Gilman was arrested in January 2022 in Voronezh, Russia, on assault charges his family and defence team disputed.
His sentence grew from three and a half years to 10 years after additional charges of assaulting prison guards.
In critical condition with pneumonia, extreme weight loss and a near-unresponsive state, Gilman is returning to the US for medical treatment.
- Who
- Robert Gilman, a 32-year-old former US Marine and English teacher from the United States.
- What
- He was released from Russian detention on humanitarian grounds and is returning to the US for specialised medical care.
- When
- Now, after more than four years in detention; he was originally arrested in January 2022 (no exact release date given).
- Where
- He was held in Russia, arrested in the city of Voronezh, and is now travelling to the US, expected to reach Maryland before a US military medical facility in Texas.
- Why
- His health deteriorated critically, with extreme weight loss, pneumonia, a feeding tube and a near-unresponsive state, prompting the humanitarian release.
Russian authorities' account
Family and supporters' account
Assault allegations
Russian authorities' account
Russian authorities accused Gilman of kicking a police officer while under the influence of alcohol.
Family and supporters' account
Gilman's family and defence team disputed the allegations, saying he was seriously unwell and had suffered a concussion at the time.
Sentence extensions
Russian authorities' account
Prosecutors brought additional charges accusing Gilman of assaulting prison guards, increasing his sentence to 10 years.
Family and supporters' account
Supporters argued the repeated extensions kept him in detention and raised concerns he could be used as leverage in US-Russia negotiations.
- Name
- Robert Gilman
- Age
- 32
- Background
- Former US Marine and English teacher
- Arrest
- January 2022, Voronezh, Russia
- Sentence
- 10 years (initially three and a half years)
- Charges
- Kicking a police officer; later assaulting prison guards
- Release Basis
- Unilateral humanitarian pardon by Putin; no prisoner exchange or known US concessions
- Destination
- US military medical facility in Texas, via Maryland, for medical and psychological evaluation