In brief
Former U.S. Marine Robert Gilman, jailed in Russia in 2022 for assaulting a police officer, was released on humanitarian grounds following a severe health scare. Doctors reported that Gilman suffered a dissociative stupor and pneumonia while in custody, sparking concern from U.S. officials and his family. Russian Special Envoy Kirill Dmitriev confirmed his release and that he was airlifted back to Washington, D.C. U.S. medical teams are now treating him, with his family expecting arrival at a Texas military hospital. The case highlights growing tensions between Russia and the United States over the treatment of foreign detainees.
Robert Gilman, a 28‑year‑old Marine from Massachusetts, was freed from a Russian detention facility on Tuesday after a serious medical emergency. Russian authorities confirmed his release, citing humanitarian reasons, and arranged for his transport on a U.S. aircraft bound for Washington, D.C.
U.S. Senator Ed Markey highlighted Gilman's dire condition, describing him as “essentially catatonic” and suffering from a severe case of pneumonia. Markey noted that approximately 50 days before his release, Gilman was diagnosed with a dissociative stupor, a state in which he was unresponsive and unable to eat or interact.
American doctors had been tending to Gilman during his stay in Russia and report that, upon his return to the United States, he appears to be in better health. A U.S. official mentioned that his condition seems to have improved.
Family members await his arrival at a military hospital in Texas, while his sister released a statement expressing gratitude for presidential intervention that allegedly secured his survival.
