Former U.S. Marine Robert Gilman Released from Russian Detention After Trump Discussions with Putin

President Donald Trump announced Tuesday that Russia has released former U.S. Marine Robert Gilman, a Massachusetts native who had been held in Russian custody for more than four years, following discussions between Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin.

In a Truth Social post, Trump stated that after his talks with Putin, Russia agreed to free Gilman “very much on a Humanitarian Basis.” He emphasized that no prisoner exchange occurred and that Russia requested no one in return. “We appreciate this decision,” Trump wrote, adding that Gilman was on a flight back to the United States accompanied by his mother and would land at Joint Base Andrews near Washington that evening. Trump said he had spoken directly with Gilman, who requested “a GREAT cheeseburger” upon arrival, which the president promised to arrange.

Gilman, 32, a Marine Corps veteran and English teacher, was detained in January 2022 in Voronezh, Russia, while traveling by train. Russian authorities charged him with assaulting a police officer following an alleged disturbance. Advocates and his family have disputed the charges and described the circumstances of his arrest as questionable. He received an initial sentence that was later extended after additional convictions related to alleged assaults on prison staff, ultimately resulting in a roughly 10-year term.

In recent months, Gilman’s health deteriorated sharply. Advocacy groups and family members reported that he had been subjected to harsh and abusive treatment in prison, including physical mistreatment. By early July 2026, he had entered a dissociative stupor lasting about 47 days, during which he was non-responsive, unable to interact or eat independently, and required a feeding tube. He was transferred from prison to a civilian psychiatric hospital, where he was described as being in a dire, life-threatening condition and, according to some accounts, handcuffed to a bed. The U.S. State Department had designated him as wrongfully detained.

U.S. officials said Russian senior official Yuri Ushakov informed Trump aides last week that Putin had agreed to a humanitarian pardon, citing the Russian leader’s relationship with the American president. Intense negotiations over the weekend followed. American representatives confirmed that no Russian prisoners were traded and no other concessions were made. One official described the release as a “goodwill gesture.”

Gilman was flown out of Russia on a specialized medical aircraft with doctors aboard evaluating him during the journey. His mother, Nina, accompanied him. Upon arrival, he was expected to be greeted by U.S. officials including special envoy Steve Witkoff and deputy national security adviser Sebastian Gorka, both of whom had worked on the case along with Secretary of State Marco Rubio, special envoy for hostage response Adam Boehler, and others. He was then to be transferred to a U.S. military hospital in Texas for full medical and psychological assessment and treatment. A U.S. official who spoke with Gilman reported that he was walking and talking and, all things considered, appeared to be in relatively good shape given the circumstances.

Gilman’s sister, Lexie Hudson, credited Trump with securing the release, stating that there was no other reason her brother was alive today other than that the president heard about the case and took action. She also thanked Massachusetts Sen. Ed Markey for leading congressional advocacy efforts. Markey had previously highlighted the urgency of the situation due to Gilman’s declining health.

The release marks another case of an American citizen brought home during the Trump administration without a reciprocal prisoner swap. Officials and advocates have noted that Russia continues to hold other U.S. nationals, and the administration has prioritized efforts to secure their return. Gilman’s family and supporters expressed relief at his freedom after years of detention under disputed circumstances and severe health decline.