Russia Releases Former US Marine Robert Gilman After 1,666 Days
Russia released former US Marine Robert Gilman from custody. He had been held for 1,666 days since 2022.
Gilman is 32 and works as an English teacher. He briefly served in the US Marines before that.
Police arrested him in January 2022 in Voronezh in southern Russia. He was traveling by train and allegedly kicked an officer while drunk.
His family disputed the sentence he received. The Guardian said Russian President Vladimir Putin pardoned Gilman.
Putin granted the pardon for humanitarian reasons. Fox News said the release was part of a prisoner exchange.
Gilman was flown out of Russia after his release. Reports described his health as poor and life-threatening before release.
Trump said Gilman had been in a catatonic-like state. Gilman reportedly spent 47 days in a dissociative stupor.
This was due to abuse he suffered in prison. US officials had determined Gilman was wrongfully detained.
Key Terms 5
- dissociative stupor A state of being unresponsive caused by severe trauma or abuse.
- catatonic-like state A condition where a person cannot move or respond normally.
- wrongfully detained An official US label meaning someone was unjustly imprisoned abroad.
- prisoner exchange A swap where countries release each other's held citizens.
- humanitarian pardon A release granted mainly due to health or compassionate reasons.