Former US Marine Robert Gilman released from Russian prison after four years

Robert Gilman, a 32-year-old former US Marine from Lowell, Massachusetts, was released from Russian detention on August 11, 2026, after more than four years in prison. Russian President Vladimir Putin approved his release on humanitarian grounds, with no prisoner exchange involved, according to US President Donald Trump. Gilman had been arrested in January 2022 following an altercation on a train to Moscow, initially receiving a 3.5-year sentence for kicking a police officer. Additional convictions for assaults on prison staff extended his sentence to 10 years before his release.

Gilman's health had severely deteriorated during imprisonment. Advocacy groups reported he had fallen into a dissociative stupor lasting approximately 47–50 days before release and was suffering from severe pneumonia. He was moved to a civilian hospital where he required a feeding tube and was handcuffed to a bed. Accounts describe harsh conditions including forced exercise sessions lasting up to 16 hours and administration of psychotropic drugs. US officials and his legal representation indicated his condition was life-threatening at the time of release.

Gilman arrived at Andrews Air Force Base in Washington, D.C., on August 12, 2026, accompanied by his mother, medical staff, and administration officials. He was subsequently transported to a US military hospital in Texas for medical and psychological assessment and treatment. His family, including his sister Lexie Hudson, traveled to Texas to be present during his recovery. US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff confirmed meeting with Gilman upon his arrival in the United States. Gilman was designated as a wrongfully detained American by the US State Department, joining at least eight other Americans currently held in Russian custody.