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Former U.S. Marine Robert Gilman returned to the United States on the night of Aug. 11 after being released from a Russian prison where he had been held since 2022, according to senior Trump administration officials.Gilman, 32, was welcomed by U.S. officials upon arrival and is expected to receive medical treatment after advocates raised concerns about his deteriorating health while imprisoned in Russia. A State Department plane carrying Gilman arrived at Dulles International Airport outside Washington, DC, late on Aug. 11."Tonight, I had the profound privilege of welcoming Robert Gilman home to the United States after more than four years of detention in Russia," U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff said in a statement on X. "Robert is a patriot—a former United States Marine who served our country with honor. He can now finally return to his family and receive the medical care he needs."Witkoff thanked Russian President Vladimir Putin for granting Gilman a pardon and "for his personal engagement throughout this process." President Donald Trump announced Gilman's release earlier in the day, saying Russia agreed to free him on a "Humanitarian Basis" and that no prisoner exchange occurred. Sebastian Gorka, the senior director for counterterrorism at the National Security Council, also confirmed on X that Gilman had returned to the United States, writing that the former Marine was "safely back on American soil." He added that Witkoff had greeted Gilman with hamburgers and milkshakes.After stopping at Dulles, Gilman was en route to a rehabilitation center in San Antonio for medical treatment, according to Reuters, which cited anonymous U.S. officials.Gilman, of Lowell, Massachusetts, was imprisoned on charges of assaulting a Russian police officer. Those who advocated for his release and U.S. officials have questioned the case.Sen. Ed Markey, D-Mass., said Gilman had been diagnosed with "dissociative stupor" and described him as "essentially catatonic." Markey alleged Russian authorities subjected Gilman to physical abuse and forced medication during his detention. Gilman's release leaves several Americans still imprisoned in Russia, including Stephen Hubbard, who was sentenced on charges that he served in Ukrainian defense forces amid Russia’s invasion of the country. U.S. officials said efforts to secure the release of other Americans detained in Russia are ongoing.Contributing: Michael Loria, USA TODAY; Reuters
