Who is Robert Gilman, former US Marine released from ‘wrongful detention’ in a Russian prison after more than 4 years?

Published 12 August 2026 · us

US President Donald Trump on Tuesday (local time) announced that Robert Gilman, an American military veteran who had been imprisoned in Russia for more than

US President Donald Trump on Tuesday (local time) announced that Robert Gilman, an American military veteran who had been imprisoned in Russia for more than four years, is coming home after he has been freed on humanitarian grounds. 32-year-old Gilman, a Massachusetts teacher and former Marine, who was imprisoned in Russia in 2022, was freed after Trump said he spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin about his release. What Trump said “We appreciate this decision, and the fact that Russia asked for no one in return — No exchange took place,” Trump said in a post on Truth Social. Gilman will arrive at Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland outside of Washington on Tuesday evening, Trump said in his post. “I just spoke to him, and he had one request — A GREAT cheeseburger when he lands,” Trump wrote.

“I will take care of that!” Also Read | US intel finds Putin could test NATO’s resolve with limited incursion Gilman is bound for a military hospital in Texas, where he will be medically and psychologically assessed and treated, Eric Lebson, chief strategy officer of Global Reach, said in a statement. What happened to Robert Gilman? Gilman was arrested in Voronezh, Russia, on January 17, 2022. According to his family, Gilman had fallen ill while traveling through the country to explore a teaching opportunity in Moldova. Russian authorities accused him of assaulting a police officer while intoxicated on a train, a charge his family vehemently denied, stating the kick was accidental due to his illness. Wrongfully detained: US He was initially convicted and sentenced to 3.5 years in jail, but his prison term was extended three times, including on charges of attacking a prison inspector during a cell check, beating an investigator and assaulting a guard.

Russian media reported that he pleaded guilty to the charges and apologized to the guards he was charged with assaulting. Also Read | Who is Seth Chambers? Man indicted for leaking classified US defence information Gilman’s father has disputed the charges against his son, while the State Department has said the US determined that Gilman was wrongfully detained. Assaulted in custody According to his family, while in custody, Gilman was subjected to physical torture and severe mental abuse. In 2024, his health critically deteriorated to a "dire and life-threatening" state. He was hospitalized in a catatonic "dissociative stupor," requiring tube-feeding. Gilman’s lawyer Irina Brazhnikova told the Russian news agency Interfax on Friday that Gilman was in a psychiatric ward of a civilian hospital, where he’s been since early July. He was there “due to a psychiatric condition,” and according to doctors, his condition has worsened, but neither his defense lawyers, nor his family were allowed to visit, she said.