President Donald Trump announced the release of former United States Marine Robert Gilman. He was imprisoned in Russia during the Biden administration. He didn’t have to exchange anyone or pay the Russians off.
Gilman served in the U.S. Marines from 2019 to 2020. He was arrested in January 2022 in Voronezh, Russia, while traveling by train for allegedly assaulting a police officer while intoxicated.
His family has long maintained the charges were false or exaggerated, stating he had fallen ill and that the officer was uninjured and initially dropped the matter.
Gilman was originally sentenced to about 4.5 years, but he was charged with additional convictions while in custody for alleged assaults on prison staff and an investigator, which then extended his total sentence to as much as 10 years.
In 2026, his health deteriorated. Allegedly, he was near death and in a catatonic state.
President Trump spoke with President Putin. He was then released. The President wrote:
I am proud to announce that American Citizen Robert Gilman, a former United States Marine, is coming HOME! In a well known Media story, Robert was imprisoned in Russia in 2022, during the Biden Administration. After my discussions with President Vladimir Putin, Russia has agreed to release him, very much on a Humanitarian Basis. We appreciate this decision, and the fact that Russia asked for no one in return — No exchange took place.
Robert will land at Andrews Air Force Base, in Washington, D.C., tonight, where my Representatives, some of whom are on the plane with him, will welcome Robert back to THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA! I just spoke to him, and he had one request — A GREAT cheeseburger when he lands. I will take care of that!
During my Administration, we have prioritized bringing home Americans Detained Abroad, and have done so at a level never seen before, returning hundreds of people to their families. We have also freed many non Americans who were under capture in different countries throughout the World. Robert Gilman has been reunited with his wonderful mother, Nancy, who is also on the plane with him, and will soon get to see all of his loved ones.
Thank you to my incredible Team, including Special Envoy for Peace Missions, Steve Witkoff, Special Envoy for Hostage Response, Adam Boehler, Senior Director for Counterterrorism, Sebastian Gorka, Jared Kushner, and the many others who made this possible. GOD BLESS AMERICA! President DONALD J. TRUMP
He was given a humanitarian release after more than four years in prison.
🚨 ROBERT GILMAN IS FREE, AMEN!
Former U.S. Marine Robert Gilman is on his way home after four years in a Russian prison.
No prisoner swap.
No concessions.Just a humanitarian release after President Trump spoke directly with Putin.
He’s on a State Department plane with his… pic.twitter.com/pDAASYFNjq
— Gunther Eagleman™ (@GuntherEagleman) August 11, 2026
