- Russia frees ailing ex-US Marine Robert Gilman from detention.
- Gilman was sentenced to four and a half years in jail, and the release resulted from intense negotiations, with Putin agreeing to a pardon due to his friendship with President Trump.
- Before release, Gilman had been moved to a psychiatric ward in a catatonic-like state assessed as a "dissociative stupor", though an official said he seemed in good shape.
- Gilman, who served in the US Marines from August 2019 until August 2020, was arrested in January 2022 in Voronezh for allegedly kicking a police officer while drunk, but his father said the charges were false.
- US officials said President Putin approved a pardon for Gilman, and Witkoff thanked Putin for the pardon and his personal engagement.
- US officials said Russia sought no concessions in return for the release, calling it a goodwill gesture.
- Gilman was to be evaluated by four doctors on the flight and was headed to a rehabilitation centre in San Antonio, Texas for medical treatment.
- Gilman was arrested in January 2022 in Voronezh for allegedly kicking a police officer while drunk, but his father said the charges were false.
Russia has freed former US Marine Robert Gilman, who had been detained since January 2022, after intense negotiations involving US and Russian officials.
Gilman, 32, was released for humanitarian reasons, with US President Donald Trump confirming the news on social media.
"He can now fully return to his family and receive the medical care he needs," said US special envoy Steve Witkoff, who played a crucial role in the negotiations. He greeted Gilman at Dulles International Airport with hamburgers and milkshakes.
US officials reported that President Vladimir Putin approved a pardon for Gilman, who had been sentenced to four and a half years in prison for allegedly kicking a police officer while intoxicated. However, Gilman's family has claimed the charges were false.14
The release was described as a goodwill gesture, with no concessions made by the US in return.1011
Gilman was moved to a psychiatric ward in a civilian hospital in a catatonic-like state before his release, according to Eric Lebson, chief strategy officer of Global Reach, an advocacy group for Gilman's family.45
Following his release, Gilman is on his way to a rehabilitation center in San Antonio, Texas, for further medical treatment, with evaluations by four doctors planned during his flight home.
“Gilman, who served in the Marines from August 2019 to August 2020, was arrested in January 2022 in Voronezh and sentenced to four and a half years. He was moved to a psychiatric ward in a catatonic-like state, but an official said he seemed in good shape.”
