Former US Marine Released by Russia    08/12 06:28

   

   WASHINGTON (AP) -- Russia released an American military veteran on Tuesday, 
allowing his return to the U.S. after four years of what his family and U.S. 
officials allege was wrongful incarceration and abusive treatment that left him 
near death.

   Robert Gilman, a 32-year-old Massachusetts teacher and former Marine, was 
freed after President Donald Trump said he spoke with Russian President 
Vladimir Putin about his release, which Trump said was "very much on a 
Humanitarian Basis."

   "We appreciate this decision, and the fact that Russia asked for no one in 
return -- No exchange took place," Trump said on his Truth Social platform.

   Arrests of Americans have become increasingly common in Russia in recent 
years. Concern has risen that Russia could be targeting U.S. nationals to use 
later as bargaining chips in talks to bring back Russians convicted of crimes 
in the U.S. and Europe. Five other Americans remain imprisoned in Russia with 
deteriorating medical issues, according to a news release from Global Reach, a 
group that's been working to free them.

   Secretary of State Marco Rubio posted a photo on social media of a 
gaunt-looking Gilman draped in an American flag and surrounded by his family 
aboard an airplane.

   "While we appreciate this positive step, we are still seeking the immediate 
return of all other unjustly detained Americans," Rubio stated.

   Gilman will arrive at Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland outside of 
Washington on Tuesday evening, Trump said in his post.

   "I just spoke to him, and he had one request -- A GREAT cheeseburger when he 
lands," Trump wrote. "I will take care of that!"

   Gilman is bound for a military hospital in Texas, where he will be medically 
and psychologically assessed and treated, Eric Lebson, chief strategy 
officer of Global Reach, said in a statement.

   Gilman had his prison sentence extended three times

   Gilman was detained in 2022 on charges of beating a police officer after 
being taken off a train for causing a disturbance. He was convicted and handed 
a 3.5-year sentence.

   He later was convicted of attacking a prison inspector during a cell check, 
beating an investigator and assaulting a guard. In October 2024, he was 
sentenced to eight years and one month. His sentence was extended in December 
to 10 years after he was found guilty of assaulting prison guards.

   Russian media reported that he pleaded guilty to the charges and apologized 
to the guards he was charged with assaulting. The business daily Kommersant 
said he explained his actions by saying he wanted to stay in the prison where 
he was serving his sentence and avoid being moved to another penitentiary.

   Gilman's father has disputed the charges against his son, while the State 
Department has said the U.S. determined that Gilman was wrongfully detained,

   Gilman's sister, Lexie Hudson, credited Trump and U.S. Sen. Ed Markey of 
Massachusetts with bringing about his release.

   "There is no other reason that Robert is alive today other than that 
President Trump heard about the case and took action," said Hudson, who thanked 
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?"

   Russian officials did not immediately comment on Gilman's release. Russia's 
Federal Penitentiary Service did not respond to a request for comment on his 
health deteriorating behind bars.

   Gilman was hospitalized before his release

   Gilman's lawyer Irina Brazhnikova told the Russian news agency Interfax on 
Friday that Gilman was in a psychiatric ward of a civilian hospital, where he's 
been since early July.

   He was there "due to a psychiatric condition," and according to doctors, his 
condition has worsened, but neither his defense lawyers, nor his family were 
allowed to visit, she said.

   Before Gilman was flown out of Russia, he had been in "a dissociative 
stupor" for 47 days due to the abuse he had suffered in prison, according to 
Lebson. After Gilman was moved to the hospital, he was hooked up to a feeding 
tube and handcuffed to a bed.

   Hospital reports conveyed Gilman's condition "as dire and life-threatening," 
pushing the U.S. government into action and leading to his release, Lebson said.

   Markey had called on Russia and the U.S. to work together to get Gilman 
released. He was among at least eight Americans who remained in Russian custody 
after a series of high-profile prisoner exchanges with the U.S. in recent years.

   Markey blamed Russia for Gilman's poor health, saying his return to the U.S. 
was long overdue.

   "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," 
Markey said. "Throughout his detention, Robert was subjected to physical 
torture, forced medication, and provocations by Russian authorities. There is 
no doubt that his treatment by Russian authorities is the reason Robert is in 
this precarious state today."