Putin Pardons Jailed Former US Marine

On Tuesday, Russia released former US Marine Robert Gilman, who had been imprisoned in the country since 2022. Russian President Vladimir Putin granted him a pardon on humanitarian grounds, US officials said.

The White House and the US State Department had called for the release of 32-year-old Gilman, primarily because of his deteriorating health. According to an organization representing his family, he was transferred from a prison hospital to the psychiatric ward of a civilian hospital in late June in a state resembling catatonia. However, according to a US official, he was walking and communicating after his release.

Gilman has already departed Russia on a US State Department flight. He is accompanied by four doctors and his mother. Upon arrival in the US, he is expected to continue treatment at a military hospital in Texas.

The former Marine was detained in January 2022 in Voronezh following an incident with a police officer. Russian authorities said he kicked the officer while intoxicated. Gilman’s family disputed the allegations and said the incident occurred while he was experiencing health problems. He was initially sentenced to four and a half years in prison. His sentence was later extended following additional convictions for allegedly assaulting prison officials and an investigator, eventually bringing his total sentence to 10 years.

According to US officials, Washington did not exchange any Russian prisoners for his release or make any concessions to Moscow. They described the move as a gesture of goodwill.

(Reuters, MJA)