President Donald Trump said a US Marine held in a Russian prison, whose health was reportedly in extremely poor condition, has been released.
“After my discussions with President Vladimir Putin, Russia has agreed to release him, very much on a Humanitarian Basis,” Trump wrote on Truth Social, adding that no prisoner swap took place.
In 2022, Gilman, who is from Massachusetts, was arrested for allegedly kicking a police officer while aboard a train. He had recently been moved from prison to a civilian hospital in Russia after going into a catatonic-like state.
Trump said the 32-year-old was on a flight back to the US accompanied by his mother, doctors, and members of the administration.
According to a statement from his family, Gilman is expected to later arrive at a US military hospital in Texas where he will be assessed and treated.
His health was in “life-threatening condition” after he was subjected to “harsh and abusive treatment”, the family said.
“The Russians treated my brother so badly. They hurt him for no reason, other than that he was both and American and a Marine,” his sister, Lexi Hudson, said in the statement.
“I am so grateful to President Trump for saving my brother’s life,” she added.
Massachusetts Senator Ed Markey also helped secure her brother’s release, she said.
In a statement, Markey said: “Approximately 50 days ago, Robert was diagnosed with a dissociative stupor – a condition where he is non-responsive and unable to interact or eat. ”
In Russian confinement, Gilman was subject to repeated harassment, including forced exercise training sessions that lasted up to 16 hours and the administration of psychotropic drugs, Eric Lebson, who advocated for Gilman’s release as part of the group Global Reach, told CBS News, the BBC’s media partner.
The abuse was so severe that at one point Gilman had required a feeding tube in his nose, according to Lebson.
Gilman served in the US Marines from August 2019 to August 2020.
He was arrested for allegedly kicking a police officer while drunk aboard a train to Moscow in January 2022 and was initially given a sentence of three and a half years.
He was later found guilty of assaulting prison guards, after he allegedly attacked a prison inspector during a cell check. His sentence was then increased to 10 years.
Lebson said five other Americans remain in Russia, each contending with medical issues. Their names are Aleksandr Antonov, David Barnes, Olga Jezler, Andre Khachatoorian, and Chuck Zimmerman.
