politics
Russia frees ex-US marine four years after sentence disputed by his family
Robert Gilman had been deteriorating rapidly in prison and was said to be in a catatonic state
TL;DR
- Robert Gilman, a former US marine, has been pardoned and released from Russian prison.
- He was arrested in January 2022 and sentenced to four and a half years for allegedly kicking a police officer while drunk.
- His family denied the allegations, stating he was ill at the time of the incident.
- Concerns grew over Gilman's health, with reports of him being in a catatonic-like state.
- US President Donald Trump announced the release, stating it was on humanitarian grounds and no exchange occurred.
- Gilman was en route to the US on a State Department plane.
- This release is unusual as Russia typically seeks a prisoner exchange.
- The decision may signal Moscow's desire to improve relations with the Trump administration.
- Gilman is among at least 10 Americans known to be imprisoned in Russia.