Former US Marine held in Russia released on 'humanitarian grounds'

Robert Gilman, a former US Marine held in Russia, has been released on "humanitarian grounds," the State Department said Tuesday.

"Mr. Gilman's release was not part of an exchange, and no other concessions were provided," a department spokesperson said in an email. "The Russian government released Mr. Gilman on humanitarian grounds."

Gilman was sentenced in 2022 by a court in southwestern Russia to four and a half years in prison for assaulting a police officer. His sentence was later extended to 10 years for violence against prison staff.

The State Department confirmed that he had recently been classified as "unjustly detained" in Russia.

In a recent message, his sister, Lexie Hudson, had mentioned a serious deterioration in his health, calling for his urgent release.

"This Administration will continue to work for the release of all Americans unjustly detained in Russia, including wrongful detainee Stephen Hubbard," the State Department added.

Hubbard, a retired English teacher, was sentenced in a closed trial in October 2024 to nearly seven years in prison for "mercenary work" on behalf of Ukraine, a charge he denies.