Russia on Tuesday released Robert Gilman, a former US Marine who had spent more than four years in prison on disputed charges, according to a group advocating for him and US officials.
US President Donald Trump and the State Department both said the release was on "humanitarian grounds" and that it was not part of an exchange or prisoner swap with Russia.
The 32-year-old former service member had been working as a teacher in Russia when he was first detained in 2022, accused of assaulting a police officer after being ejected from a train for causing a disturbance.
He was later accused of other violent offenses while incarcerated and was given longer jail sentences, ultimately reaching a total of roughly 10 years.
Advocacy group Global Reach had warned of Gilman's deteriorating health condition in detention. His mother was in Russia trying to secure his release as the news developed.
Trump posted about the release on his Truth Social platform, also including what appeared to be a photo of a sedentary Gilman, his mother and others on a plane, holding an American flag.
"After my discussions with President Vladimir Putin, Russia has agreed to release him, very much on a Humanitarian Basis," Trump wrote. "We appreciated the decision, and the fact that Russia asked for no one in return — No exchange took place."
He said that Gilman and others would land at Andrews Air Force Base in Washington later on Tuesday to be welcomed back to the US.
The State Department, meanwhile, issued a statement attributed to Secretary of State Marco Rubio. "We thank Russia for working with Special Envoy Steve Witkoff to release Mr. Gilman and allowing him to receive the necessary medical treatment here in the United States," Rubio said.
The statement lauded Trump's efforts to free US-Americans from foreign detention during his second term and concluded that Trump "will not stop until all unjustly detained Americans are home."
Gilman's sister Lexie Hudson said in a statement from advocacy group Global Reach that Trump hearing about the case and taking action was the "reason that Robert is alive today." She also thanked Democrat Massachusetts Senator Ed Markey "for leading our advocacy efforts in Congress."
"The Russians treated my brother so badly," Hudson said. "They hurt him for no reason, other than that he was both an American and a Marine. What did they get out of this? Why did they do this to such a wonderful person?"
According to Global Reach's chief strategy officer Eric Lebson, Gilman had been in a "dissociative stupor" for 47 days, attributing this to abuse he suffered in prison. He had been moved to a civilian hospital prior to his release, and would soon be medically and psychologically assessed and treated at a US military hospital.
Senator Markey said in the statement from Global Reach: "It is a tragedy that it took Robert's near-death condition for his case to receive the attention that it required for his release to be negotiated. Throughout his detention, Robert was subjected to physical torture, forced medication, and provocations by Russian authorities."
Gilman was arrested in January 2022, a few weeks before Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. His prosecution proceeded as relations between Putin's Russia and NATO members deteriorated markedly.
Source: www.dw.com