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🇺🇸 United States /Crime & Justice

Marine Veteran Held in Russia Since 2022 Released, Group Says

From CBS News · () English

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Outcome reported
  • Robert Gilman, a U.S. military veteran held in Russia since 2022, has been released and is en route to a military hospital in Texas.
  • Gilman, 32, faced multiple convictions in Russia, including assaulting a police officer and prison guards, leading to an extended sentence.
  • Advocates allege he suffered abuse and mistreatment in prison, including forced exercise and psychotropic drugs, and was at risk of dying.

Robert Gilman, an American military veteran who has been imprisoned in Russia since 2022, has been released and is now on his way to a U.S. military hospital in Texas for assessment and treatment. Global Reach, a group advocating for his release, confirmed his departure from Russia.

Gilman had been moved from a prison to a civilian hospital, where he was hooked up to a feeding tube and handcuffed to a bed.

— Eric LebsonDescribing the conditions of Robert Gilman's detention in a Russian hospital.

Gilman, 32, who was a teacher, was initially detained in 2022 and sentenced to 3 1/2 years for allegedly beating a police officer. His sentence was later extended significantly after he was convicted of assaulting a prison inspector, an investigator, and guards. By October 2024, his sentence had reached eight years and one month, and it was further extended to 10 years after additional assault convictions.

Russian authorities had subjected Gilman to mistreatment, including harassment, forced exercise sessions lasting up to 16 hours and the administration of psychotropic drugs.

— Eric LebsonAlleging the nature of the abuse Robert Gilman suffered in Russian custody.

Advocates for Gilman claim he endured severe mistreatment and abuse during his detention. Eric Lebson, chief strategy officer at Global Reach, stated that Gilman had been in a "dissociative stupor" for 47 days due to the alleged abuse. He was reportedly moved to a civilian hospital, where he was handcuffed to a bed and required a feeding tube. Lebson also alleged that Russian authorities subjected Gilman to harassment, prolonged forced exercise sessions, and the administration of psychotropic drugs, and that he was pressured to fight in Ukraine.

has raised his case repeatedly with the Russian government and has requested his release on humanitarian grounds.

— State Department spokespersonDetailing the U.S. government's actions regarding Robert Gilman's case.

Senator Edward Markey had previously called for cooperation between Russia and the U.S. to secure Gilman's release. He is one of at least eight Americans known to be held in Russian custody. The U.S. State Department had expressed deep concern over Gilman's health and detention, repeatedly raising his case with the Russian government on humanitarian grounds.

deeply concerned about Robert Gilman's health and continued detention in Russia.

— State Department spokespersonExpressing the U.S. government's concern over Robert Gilman's well-being.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by CBS News in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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