A former US Marine, Robert Gilman, who had been imprisoned by Russia for over four years, has been freed on humanitarian grounds and is due to return home after advocates raised concerns about his health. Announcing Gilman’s release in a post on Truth Social, President Donald Trump said he spoke to Russian President Vladimir Putin, who agreed to release him on humanitarian grounds.
Trump said he appreciated the decision and the fact that Russia did not ask for a prisoner swap or exchange. Trump said Gilman was imprisoned in Russia during former US President Joe Biden’s administration in 2022. He said Gilman, who served in the US Marines from August 2019 until August 2020, was travelling by train when he was arrested in January 2022 in Voronezh.
According to Russian media, Gilman was detained for allegedly kicking a police officer while drunk. However, his father said the charges were false. Gilman had been one of at least 10 Americans known to be imprisoned in Russia. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio also thanked Russia and vowed to bring home all other detained Americans.
