Russia has released former U.S. Marine Robert Gilman, who was jailed in 2022 and reportedly suffered from severe pneumonia and dissociative stupor. The 28‑year‑old, a Massachusetts resident, was freed on humanitarian grounds, say Russian officials, and was flown aboard a U.S. aircraft to Washington, D.C., on Tuesday.
Russian special envoy Kirill Dmitriev confirmed the release, stating that Gilman had been freed “from detention for humanitarian reasons.”
Massachusetts Senator Ed Markey shared details on social media, describing Gilman as “essentially catatonic” and battling a “severe case of pneumonia” before his release. Markey added that Gilman had been diagnosed with a dissociative stupor—a state in which he was non‑responsive and unable to eat or interact—about 50 days earlier.
Reuters reports that multiple doctors treated Gilman as he returned to the United States; a U.S. official described him as “in good shape.” His family is awaiting his arrival at a military hospital in Texas, according to CBS News and the BBC’s U.S. partner.
In a statement, Gilman’s sister, Lexie Hudson, expressed gratitude, saying, “I am so grateful to President Trump for saving my brother’s life. There is no other reason that Robert is alive today other than that President Trump heard about the case and took action.”
