Former U.S. Marine Robert Gilman, held in Russia for 1,666 days, returned to the United States on August 11, 2024, after being released on humanitarian grounds. Gilman, a 32-year-old Massachusetts teacher and Marine veteran, was arrested in January 2022 in Voronezh, Russia, on charges of assaulting a police officer. His release followed discussions between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, as announced by Trump on Truth Social.
Gilman arrived at Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland aboard a State Department plane, where he was greeted by family members and U.S. officials. He was subsequently transported to a military hospital in Texas for medical and psychological evaluation and treatment. Trump stated in a post that Gilman had requested a cheeseburger upon landing, which was arranged by officials.
Medical condition and allegations of abuse
Gilman’s family and U.S. officials described his condition as frail upon his return, with reports indicating he required extensive medical and psychological care. A representative for Gilman’s family, Kieran Ramsey, stated that Gilman was unable to walk off the plane unassisted and would need long-term rehabilitation. Ramsey also alleged that Gilman had been subjected to physical and mental abuse, including forced medication and torture, during his detention.
U.S. Senator Ed Markey, who worked on Gilman’s case, echoed these concerns, stating that Gilman had endured a “nightmare” of over 1,600 days in captivity. The Gilman family disputed the charges against him, asserting that he had been ill at the time of his arrest and that the assault claim was accidental.
Legal and diplomatic context
Gilman was initially sentenced to four and a half years in prison in 2022 for assaulting a police officer. His sentence was later extended to 10 years for alleged violence against prison staff. The U.S. State Department and White House had previously urged Moscow to release Gilman to allow him to receive medical treatment in the United States.
Trump confirmed that no prisoner exchange was involved in Gilman’s release, stating that Russia had agreed to the release “on a humanitarian basis.” U.S. officials, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, welcomed Gilman’s return but emphasized that other Americans remain detained in Russia under similar conditions. Rubio stated that while Gilman’s release was a positive step, the U.S. would continue to seek the return of all unjustly detained Americans.
Gilman’s case is one of several involving Americans detained in Russia in recent years, raising concerns about the use of foreign nationals as bargaining chips in diplomatic negotiations. According to Global Reach, a group advocating for the release of detained Americans, five other U.S. citizens remain imprisoned in Russia with deteriorating health conditions.