Ex-US Marine jailed in Russia for 4 years is released with Putin pardon after fears ‘torture left him on brink of death’

AILING former US Marine Robert Gilman has been freed by Russia after spending more than four years behind bars as fears mounted that he could die in custody. Russian President Vladimir Putin pardoned the 32-year-old on humanitarian grounds following a desperate US push to bring him home for medical treatment. Former US Marine Robert Gilman has been freed by Russia after spending more than four years behind bars Credit: REUTERS Russian President Vladimir Putin pardoned the 32-year-old on humanitarian grounds Credit: EPA Gilman had been held in Voronezh, about 340 miles south of Moscow, before being flown out of Russia aboard a State Department plane on Tuesday. His freedom comes just days after his family and advocates warned that his health had deteriorated dramatically. Sign up for The Sun newsletter Thank you! Eric Lebson, of advocacy group Global Reach, said Gilman had been moved from a prison hospital to a civilian psychiatric ward in late June in a catatonic-like condition diagnosed as a “dissociative stupor.” AP reported that Gilman had spent 47 days in that state and had been receiving nutrition through a feeding tube while handcuffed to a hospital bed. But a US official who spoke to him following his release said Gilman was now walking and talking, Reuters reported. Gilman’s mother Nina, who had traveled to Russia as concerns over her son’s condition intensified, was also on board. He was expected to land at Washington Dulles International Airport before likely being flown to a rehabilitation center in San Antonio, Texas. US envoy Steve Witkoff and deputy national security adviser Sebastian Gorka were expected to greet Gilman when he arrived. Most read in The Sun Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Jared Kushner and US special envoy for hostage response Adam Boehler were also among officials who had pushed for his release. Gilman’s ordeal began in January 2022 while he was traveling by train through Russia. Russian authorities accused the former Marine of kicking a police officer while drunk after he was taken off the train in Voronezh. His family has fiercely disputed that version of events. His father, Vladimir Gilman, wrote in a 2024 Boston Globe op-ed that his son had become ill and accidentally kicked the officer. He said the officer was not injured, later dropped the complaint and did not present evidence against his son at trial. Gilman was initially sentenced over the incident before later facing additional allegations that he assaulted Russian prison and law-enforcement officials. Those later convictions eventually pushed his total sentence to 10 years, according to the Associated Press. Gilman served in the US Marines from August 2019 to August 2020 and later worked as a teacher. His release came after intense negotiations between American and Russian officials over the weekend. Senior Russian official Yuri Ushakov informed Trump aides last week that Putin had agreed to pardon Gilman for humanitarian reasons, US officials told Reuters. No Russian prisoner was handed over by the US in return for his freedom. “It’s a goodwill gesture,” one US official said. Gilman will now undergo medical and psychological assessments in the US after his lengthy detention and dramatic health decline. More to follow… For the latest news on this story, keep checking back at The U.S. Sun, your go-to destination for the best celebrity news, sports news, real-life stories, jaw-dropping pictures, and must-see videos. Like us on Facebook at TheSunUS and follow us on X at @TheUSSun Comment now