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Former U.S. Marine held in Russia on disputed charges has been released
npr.org • • nation
Key Points:
- Robert Gilman, a 32-year-old American veteran and former Marine, was released by Russia after nearly four years of imprisonment marked by alleged wrongful detention and abusive treatment that left him near death.
- President Donald Trump credited his conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin for Gilman's release on humanitarian grounds, emphasizing that no prisoner exchange took place.
- Gilman had his prison sentence extended multiple times on charges including assaulting prison guards, but U.S. officials and his family maintain he was wrongfully detained and mistreated.
- Gilman is being flown to a U.S. military hospital in Texas for medical and psychological treatment after suffering severe health deterioration, including a prolonged dissociative stupor and forced hospitalization in Russia.
- U.S. Senator Ed Markey and other advocates continue to call for the release of other Americans still imprisoned in Russia under similarly harsh conditions, highlighting concerns about Russia using detainees as bargaining chips.
