Russia frees ex-US Marine Robert Gilman from detention

The US government had recently designated Gilman as wrongfully detained.A former US Marine has been freed by Russia and is due to arrive back home in the United States after being held for four years.Robert Gilman, 32, is expected to land at Andrews Air Force Base near Washington, DC, on Tuesday night, US President Donald Trump said on his Truth Social platform. Gilman had been detained in 2022 over an alleged altercation with a police officer. Russian President Vladimir Putin had agreed to release him “very much on a humanitarian basis”, Trump wrote, adding that no one was freed by the US in exchange for Gilman’s return.Recommended Stories list of 3 itemslist 1 of 3US Senate passes Russia sanctions that could hurt India and Chinalist 2 of 3US courts clear way for deportations of South Sudan, Myanmar nationalslist 3 of 3Russian forces kill several in Ukraine, launch ‘brutal’ attack in Odesaend of listThe US had urged Moscow to release Gilman so he could receive medical treatment at home. He was being held in a prison in Voronezh, about 550 kilometres (340 miles) south of Moscow. The exact circumstances of his health are unclear.A US official who spoke to Gilman said he was walking and talking. “All things considered, he seems to be in good shape,” the official said. Several doctors will evaluate him during the flight, US officials said. Gilman’s mother, Nina, is on the plane returning to the US with him, Trump said.Trump said a team of officials from his administration had worked on securing Gilman’s release, including his envoy for hostage negotiations Adam Boehler, along with advisers Steve Witkoff, Sebastian Gorka, and Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner. US officials said that after his arrival, Gilman is to be flown to a ⁠rehabilitation centre in San Antonio, Texas, for medical treatment.US Senator Ed Markey, who had been working with Gilman’s family to secure his release, said in a statement that Gilman was in a “near-death” condition, after suffering a severe case of pneumonia and entering a catatonic state where he was “non-responsive and unable to interact or eat”. Markey said Gilman’s release was “long overdue” and he had been “subjected to physical torture, forced medication, and provocations by Russian authorities” during his detention.