United States Marine veteran Robert Gilman was released from Russian custody Tuesday on humanitarian grounds after 1,666 days in prison, Fox News reported. Gilman, a U.S. citizen, had been arrested on Jan. 17, 2022, in Voronezh, Russia, and sentenced to a total of 10 years in prison.
Kieran Ramsey, a family representative who previously served as head of the FBI's Hostage Recovery Fusion cell, told Fox News that Gilman was subject to harsh treatment while in custody, putting him into what Ramsey described as "a catatonic state." According to Ramsey, Gilman had been fed through a nasal tube and his family feared he might not survive. The U.S. State Department referred to Gilman as a wrongful detainee and said his release was part of an exchange with Russia, though the department stated no other concessions were provided.
What the Right Is Saying
President Donald Trump received credit from Gilman's family for securing his release. "I am so grateful to President Trump for saving my brother's life," Hudson said in her statement. "There is no other reason that Robert is alive today other than that President Trump heard about the case and took action." Republican lawmakers pointed to the release as evidence of successful diplomacy, noting it came through a prisoner exchange with Russia without additional concessions. Ramsey told Fox News that Gilman's treatment represented one of the worst cases he had seen regarding how Russians treat Americans in prison.
What the Left Is Saying
Senator Ed Markey, D-Mass., who worked on Gilman's case alongside his staff, received praise from Gilman's sister Lexie Hudson for leading congressional advocacy efforts. "I want to thank Senator Ed Markey for leading our advocacy efforts in Congress," Hudson said in a statement provided through the nonprofit Global Relief. Human rights advocates aligned with Democratic priorities emphasized that Gilman's release highlights ongoing concerns about Americans held abroad under harsh conditions. Global Relief's Chief Strategy Officer Eric Lebson called on the administration to continue working toward freeing five other wrongfully detained Americans still held in Russian prisons, each of whom the organization says has deteriorating medical issues.
What the Numbers Show
Gilman spent 1,666 days in Russian custody, equivalent to approximately four years and seven months. He was sentenced to a total of 10 years in prison following his arrest in January 2022. According to Global Relief, five other wrongfully detained Americans remain in Russian prisons, all with reported deteriorating medical conditions. Gilman is the third U.S. Marine taken prisoner by Russia in the last decade, following Paul Whelan's detention beginning in 2018 and Trevor Reed's detention starting in 2019. Both Whelan and Reed were later released in separate prisoner swaps.
The Bottom Line
Gilman's release marks a significant moment for American detainees abroad, though advocates warn that five other U.S. citizens remain held by Russia under difficult conditions. Global Relief has specifically named those individuals: Aleksandr Antonov, David Barnes, Olga Jezler, Andre Khachatoorian, and Chuck Zimmerman. According to the organization, each has deteriorating medical issues. Gilman's family said he will undergo a full medical assessment upon returning to the United States before joining his family at a U.S. military hospital in Texas for recovery.