Former US Marine Robert Gilman released from detention in Russia

By Jennifer Hansler, CNN

(CNN) — American Robert Gilman was released from Russian detention for humanitarian reasons on Tuesday amid severe concerns about his health, multiple officials told CNN.

Gilman, a 32-year-old former Marine, had been detained in Russia since 2022. US President Donald Trump said Tuesday he had spoken with Gilman, whose advocates and family had feared was “near death” after allegedly being subjected to physical and psychological torture.

“After my discussions with President Vladimir Putin, Russia has agreed to release him, very much on a Humanitarian Basis,” Trump wrote in a Truth Social post Tuesday.

According to a US official, Putin approved a pardon for Gilman.

“We appreciate this decision, and the fact that Russia asked for no one in return — No exchange took place,” Trump added in his post. It is unclear when Trump and Putin spoke about the case.

Kirill Dmitriev, a Kremlin special envoy and head of the Russian sovereign wealth fund, also said Tuesday that Gilman had been freed from detention “for humanitarian reasons.”

Trump said that when he spoke with Gilman, “he had one request — A GREAT cheeseburger when he lands.”

Gilman will arrive in the US on Tuesday at Joint Base Andrews outside of Washington, DC, Trump said, “where my Representatives, some of whom are on the plane with him, will welcome Robert back to THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA!”

A US official told CNN that Gilman is receiving medical care and is being transported back to the United States on a specialized medical plane. His mother, who had traveled to Russia to try to see her son, is with him, according to Trump, the official, a source familiar with the matter, and Global Reach, the organization advocating on behalf of his family.

The source familiar with the matter described Gilman as verbal, but non-ambulatory.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio welcomed Gilman’s release, but noted the administration is “still seeking the immediate return of all other unjustly detained Americans, including wrongful detainee Stephen Hubbard.” There are numerous other Americans who remain detained in Russia.

Eric Lebson, the chief strategy officer of Global Reach, told CNN last week that Gilman had fallen into a “dissociative stupor” more than six weeks ago and there were concerns that he could die in Russian custody. A State Department spokesperson last week echoed that they were “deeply concerned” about his “health and continued detention in Russia.”

Lebson said Tuesday that “it is too early to know Robert’s long-term medical prognosis.”

After he lands back in the DC area, Gilman will likely head to a US military hospital in Texas, Global Reach said, “where he will be medically and psychologically assessed and treated.” Many Americans who have been designated as “wrongful detainees” have been treated at a military facility there after release. A State Department spokesperson said Tuesday that Gilman had been designated as wrongfully detained.

Gilman’s sister, Lexie Hudson, expressed thanks to US President Donald Trump for “saving (her) brother’s life.”

“There is no other reason that Robert is alive today other than that President Trump heard about the case and took action,” she said in a statement that also thanked Democratic Sen. Ed Markey.

“I am looking forward to seeing Robert. I haven’t been able to speak with him once since this all began,” Hudson said. “We will make sure that he gets the treatment and support that he needs.”

Gilman was arrested in January 2022. Russian officials alleged that he was drunk and got into an altercation with a police officer. Lebson denied that account, saying Gilman was hit by the police, got sick, and accidentally kicked the officer.

Gilman was sentenced to four and a half years in prison. He is one of multiple former US Marines who have been arrested in Russia, including Trevor Reed and Paul Whelan.

Numerous Americans remain detained in Russia, including Andre Khachatoorian, Olga Jezler, Chuck Zimmerman, David Barnes, Aleksander Antonov and Stephen Hubbard.

The State Department spokesperson said Tuesday that they hope Gilman’s release “leads to the release of Americans unjustly held in Russia, such as wrongful detainee Stephen Hubbard.”

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CNN’s Frederik Pleitgen and Aileen Graef contributed to this report.