President Donald Trump announced Tuesday that former U.S. Marine Robert Gilman is returning home after Russia released him without receiving a prisoner or other concessions from the United States.
“I am proud to announce that American citizen Robert Gilman, a former United States Marine, is coming HOME!” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
The president said Gilman’s humanitarian release followed his direct discussions with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
“We appreciate this decision, and the fact that Russia asked for no one in return,” Trump said. “No exchange took place.”
The State Department separately confirmed that the administration provided no concessions to Moscow. U.S. officials told Reuters that Putin approved Gilman’s pardon after intensive negotiations over the weekend.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio, special envoy Steve Witkoff, deputy national security adviser Sebastian Gorka, special envoy for hostage response Adam Boehler and Jared Kushner were among the administration officials who pushed for Gilman’s freedom, according to Reuters.
Gilman left Russia aboard a State Department aircraft accompanied by his mother and four doctors. One U.S. official who spoke with him said he was walking and talking.
“All things considered, he seems to be in good shape,” the official said. Gilman is expected to undergo further medical and psychological treatment at a military facility in Texas.
His sister, Lexie Hudson, directly credited Trump for intervening.
“There is no other reason that Robert is alive today other than that President Trump heard about the case and took action,” Hudson said. She also thanked Sen. Ed Markey, D-Mass., for advocating for her brother in Congress.
Gilman, a 32-year-old teacher, was arrested in Russia in January 2022 after allegedly kicking a police officer. His family has disputed Russia’s version of the incident, saying he was seriously ill and made accidental contact with the officer.
Additional convictions for alleged assaults on Russian prison and law-enforcement officials eventually extended his sentence to 10 years.
In recent weeks, Gilman’s family and advocates warned that he was near death. They said he had spent approximately 47 days in a dissociative stupor, suffered severe pneumonia and required a feeding tube while handcuffed to a hospital bed.
Trump ended his announcement on a distinctly American note, saying Gilman would receive a “GREAT cheeseburger” when he lands.
The administration said it will continue working to free other Americans unjustly detained in Russia, including wrongful detainee Stephen Hubbard.
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