Russia has released former U.S. Marine Robert Gilman, who had been imprisoned in the country since 2022, after President Donald Trump said Moscow agreed to free him on humanitarian grounds following discussions involving Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Gilman, 32, was flown back to the United States on a State Department aircraft that arrived at Dulles International Airport near Washington on Tuesday night. U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff, who helped negotiate the release, greeted him at the airport with hamburgers and milkshakes.
Trump said Gilman would now be able to return to his family and receive medical treatment in the United States. U.S. officials said Putin approved a pardon and that Russia sought no concessions or prisoner exchange in return for his release, describing the decision as a goodwill gesture.
Gilman had been held in a prison in Voronezh, about 550 kilometres south of Moscow. His family and U.S. officials had raised concerns about his health, with an advocacy group saying he had recently been transferred to a psychiatric ward after reportedly being found in a catatonic like state. A U.S. official who spoke with him after his release said he appeared to be walking and talking and was in relatively good condition.
Gilman was arrested in January 2022 after Russian authorities accused him of kicking a police officer while intoxicated. He was later sentenced to four and a half years in prison. His father has disputed the allegations, saying his son had fallen ill during the incident and accidentally kicked the officer.
The release followed intensive negotiations between U.S. and Russian officials. Secretary of State Marco Rubio welcomed the decision but called on Moscow to release other Americans detained in Russia, including retired teacher Stephen Hubbard.
U.S. officials said Gilman was expected to travel to a rehabilitation centre in San Antonio, Texas, for further medical treatment.
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