[REVISION HISTORY]

US Marine Robert Gilman released via Russian pardon

Updated 15 times since CLSTR started tracking revisions of this situation.

What changed

2026-08-12 04:53 UTC → 2026-08-26 05:10 UTC · added ~~removed~~

On 11 August 2026, Russian President Vladimir Putin granted a humanitarian pardon to 32-year-old former U.S. Marine and teacher Robert Gilman, ending his more than four years of detention. President Donald Trump announced that the release followed personal discussions with Putin and was not part of a prisoner exchange, emphasizing that no concessions were made by the United States and that Russia requested nothing in return. Gilman was originally arrested in Voronezh in January 2022 following an incident involving a police officer. While Russian state media claimed he was sentenced to four and a half years for kicking an officer while intoxicated, his family and U.S. officials have disputed these charges, suggesting the incident occurred while he was unwell. His sentence was reportedly extended to ten years due to additional charges involving prison staff. ~~His detention was marked by significant~~ Prior to his release, Gilman’s health ~~deterioration; legal representatives from~~ had reached a critical state. Advocacy groups, including Global ~~Reach~~ Reach, reported he had ~~been moved from~~ entered a ~~prison hospital~~ “dissociative stupor,” was being fed through a tube, and remained handcuffed to a ~~psychiatric ward~~ hospital bed. Human rights advocates warned his condition could become an “Otto Warmbier-type” case due to ~~a “dissociative stupor” and~~ severe ~~pneumonia. Reports also indicated he required tube feeding during his confinement.~~ physical and psychological deterioration. Following his release, Gilman was transported via a U.S. State Department aircraft ~~toward~~ to Joint Base ~~Andrews near Washington, D.C.,~~ Andrews, accompanied by his ~~mother, Nina,~~ mother and ~~four~~ medical professionals. ~~Upon landing, he is expected to be met by U.S. officials, including Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Deputy National Security Adviser Sebastian Gorka.~~ He ~~will then be flown~~ was scheduled for transfer to a medical rehabilitation center in San Antonio, Texas, for comprehensive ~~medical and psychological assessment and~~ treatment. Gilman’s release has intensified scrutiny regarding other Americans held in Russia. Advocates have highlighted the deteriorating health of remaining detainees, including individuals suffering from endometriosis, gastrointestinal illness, and autoimmune diseases, urging the U.S. government to prioritize their return before their conditions become life-threatening.

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