Robert Gilman, a 32-year-old former U.S. Marine and teacher from Massachusetts, is gravely ill after more than four years in Russian detention, according to his family and advocates. Eric Lebson of the advocacy group Global Reach said Gilman has been in what doctors describe as a "dissociative stupor" for 47 days due to alleged abuse suffered in prison. Since Tuesday, he has had a high fever and elevated blood pressure.
Gilman was originally sentenced to 3½ years in 2022 after being convicted of assaulting a police officer on a train. His sentence was later extended following additional convictions for assaulting prison officials and guards. In October 2024, he received an eight-year, one-month sentence, which was further extended to 10 years last year after additional charges.
What the Left Is Saying
U.S. Sen. Edward Markey, a Democrat from Massachusetts, called on both governments to prioritize Gilman's release on humanitarian grounds. "I am very worried that, if urgent action is not taken to release Robert so he can receive urgent medical care in the United States, his condition could become permanent, or he could die in Russian custody," Markey said in a statement Thursday. He added that he implores "the United States and Russian governments to find a solution before we find ourselves in a situation that will further complicate an already difficult relationship."
Human rights advocates have amplified calls for intervention. Lebson said Gilman has been moved from prison to a civilian hospital, where he is hooked up to a feeding tube and handcuffed to a bed. His mother flew to Russia weeks ago but was denied the ability to visit him, according to Lebson.
A State Department spokesperson expressed deep concern about Gilman's health and said the U.S. government has raised his case "repeatedly" with Russian authorities and requested his release on humanitarian grounds. "We take our commitment to assist Americans abroad seriously," the spokesperson said.
What the Right Is Saying
Conservative commentators have pointed to broader concerns about Americans detained in adversarial nations. Some Republican voices have questioned whether recent U.S. prisoner exchanges with Russia have created incentives for further hostage-taking of American citizens abroad.
The family has alleged that Gilman was subjected to "forced drugging, provocations, and torture" while imprisoned, leading to additional charges they characterize as manufactured. According to the Russian business daily Kommersant, Gilman pleaded guilty to assault charges against prison guards and apologized for his actions, explaining he wanted to remain in his current facility rather than be transferred.
Prisoner advocacy groups aligned with conservative foreign policy perspectives have stressed the importance of continuing diplomatic pressure on Russia while also examining how such cases fit into the broader landscape of Americans held by countries designated as adversaries. Gilman is one of at least eight Americans who remain in Russian custody following a series of high-profile prisoner exchanges between the two countries.
What the Numbers Show
Gilman has been detained for more than four years, since 2022. He was initially sentenced to 3½ years and has seen his sentence extended twice: first to 8 years and 1 month in October 2024, then to 10 years following additional assault convictions. He spent 47 days in what advocates describe as a dissociative stupor before developing a high fever and elevated blood pressure that prompted hospitalization.
At least 8 Americans remain in Russian custody, according to Sen. Markey's office. The State Department confirmed it has "raised his case repeatedly" with Russian authorities.
The Bottom Line
Gilman's deteriorating health condition has intensified urgency around his case as advocates warn he could die without medical intervention outside Russian custody. The State Department's request for humanitarian release remains unanswered; Russia's Federal Penitentiary Service did not respond to requests for comment.
The situation highlights ongoing challenges for the U.S. government in securing the release of Americans held abroad, particularly in countries with adversarial relationships with Washington. What happens next likely depends on continued diplomatic engagement and whether Russia agrees to any humanitarian gesture regarding Gilman's medical care.