According to reports from TASS and NBC News on the 11th, Robert Gilman, a former US Marine who had been imprisoned in Russia, has been released.
Trump, file photo. Source: IC photo
President Trump took to social media on the 11th to confirm Gilman’s release. “I am proud to announce that American citizen and former US Marine Robert Gilman is coming home!” Trump wrote in his post, noting that Gilman was imprisoned in Russia in 2022 during the Biden administration.
Trump posted on the 11th that Gilman had been released and was coming home. Shown here is the image accompanying the post.
“After my discussions with President Vladimir Putin, Russia largely agreed to release him (Gilman) out of humanitarian considerations,” Trump said. He expressed appreciation for Moscow’s decision, adding that Gilman would arrive at Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland on the evening of the 11th.
CNN reported, citing a US official, that Russian President Putin had approved the pardon for Gilman. NBC noted that Gilman is en route back to the US, and Russian officials have not yet commented publicly on his release.
According to reports from Komsomolskaya Pravda and TASS, in January 2022, Gilman was arrested in Voronezh, Russia, for causing a drunken disturbance on a train. He also kicked a Russian Interior Ministry officer at a police station. He was sentenced to four and a half years in prison, later reduced by one year. However, while serving his sentence, he faced another investigation for assaulting prison staff. In October 2024, he was sentenced to seven years and one month in prison. Later, his sentence was extended to 10 years due to new charges.