E Marine released and returning to US from Russian prison
A US citizen and former military serviceman has been released after four years in prison in Russia. President Trump said the release was not part
A US citizen and former military serviceman has been released after four years in prison in Russia. President Trump said the release was not part of any exchange and expressed appreciation to Russia's Putin. Russia on Tuesday released Robert Gilman, a former US Marine who had spent more than four years in prison on disputed charges, according to a group advocating for him and US officials. US President Donald Trump and the State Department both said the release was on "humanitarian grounds" and that it was not part of an exchange or prisoner swap with Russia. Who is Robert Gilman? The 32-year-old former service member had been working as a teacher in Russia when he was first detained in 2022, accused of assaulting a police officer after being ejected from a train for causing a disturbance. He was later accused of other violent offenses while incarcerated and was given a longer jail sentences, ultimately reaching a total of roughly 10 years. Advocacy group Global Reach had warned of Gilman's deteriorating health condition in detention. His mother was in Russia trying to secure his release as the news developed.
What did Trump and the State Department say about the release? Trump posted about the release on his Truth Social platform, also including what appeared to be a photo of a sedentary Gilman, his mother and others on a plane, holding an American flag. "After my discussions with President Vladimir Putin, Russia has agreed to release him, very much on a Humanitarian Basis," Trump wrote. "We appreciated the decision, and the fact that Russia asked for no one in return — No exchange took place." He said that Gilman and others would land at Andrews Air Force Base in Washington later on Tuesday to be welcomed back to the US. The State Department, meanwhile, issued a statement attributed to Secretary of State Marco Rubio. "We thank Russia for working with Special Envoy Steve Witkoff to release Mr. Gilman and allowing him to receive the necessary medical treatment here in the United States," Rubio said. "While we appreciate this positive step, we are still seeking the immediate return of all other unjustly detained Americans, including wrongful detainee Stephen Hubbard." The statement lauded Trump's efforts to free US-Americans from foreign detention during his second term and concluded that Trump "will not stop until all unjustly detained Americans are home." Gilman's sister credits Trump, Democrat senator with her brother's release Gilman's sister Lexie Hudson said in a statement from advocacy group Global Reach that Trump hearing about the case and taking action was the "reason that Robert is alive today." She also thanked Democrat Massachusetts Senator Ed Markey "for leading our advocacy efforts in Congress." "The Russians treated my brother so badly," Hudson said.
The BriefWire