A former US Marine detained in Russia since 2022 has been released amid health concerns

Former U.S. Marine Robert Gilman has been released from Russian detention on Tuesday, August 11, 2026, following a pardon granted by Russian President Vladimir Putin on humanitarian grounds. Gilman, who had been held in Russia since January 2022, was reportedly suffering from severe health issues. His release comes after sustained efforts by his family and U.S. officials, including appeals warning of his deteriorating condition, which advocates described as a "dissociative stupor."

Gilman, a 32-year-old English teacher, was initially detained in Voronezh and sentenced to prison for allegedly assaulting a police officer, charges his family consistently denied. Subsequent charges, including alleged attacks on prison staff, extended his sentence to as long as ten years. Concerns about his health intensified in recent weeks, with reports indicating he was in a catatonic-like state, fed through a tube, and had been moved to a psychiatric hospital.

Upon his release, Gilman was transported on a U.S. State Department plane to Washington Dulles Airport, accompanied by his mother. He is expected to undergo medical evaluation by doctors during the flight and will subsequently be flown to a rehabilitation center in San Antonio, Texas, for further treatment. U.S. officials noted that, despite his ordeal, Gilman appeared to be walking and talking, and in "good shape" given the circumstances.