Russia has released former U.S. Marine Robert Gilman after more than four years in detention, allowing the 32-year-old American to leave the country for medical treatment in the United States. Gilman departed Russia aboard a U.S. government aircraft accompanied by his mother and medical personnel, with plans for further medical and psychological evaluation after his return. His release followed a humanitarian pardon approved by Russian President Vladimir Putin amid growing concerns over Gilman’s health and repeated requests from U.S. officials for Moscow to allow him to receive treatment outside Russia.

Gilman had been held in Russia since January 2022 after authorities detained him in Voronezh following an incident involving a Russian police officer. He was initially convicted of assaulting the officer and received a prison sentence that was later increased following additional convictions involving alleged assaults against prison and law enforcement personnel. Gilman and his family disputed the circumstances surrounding the original case, while his detention eventually extended into a roughly 10-year sentence.

Concerns surrounding Gilman intensified in recent months as his health reportedly deteriorated while in Russian custody. His family and advocates said he had entered a dissociative stupor and was transferred from a prison medical facility to a civilian hospital in Voronezh. Earlier this month, U.S. Sen. Edward Markey said Gilman had been detained for more than 1,660 days and called on Russian authorities to release him immediately for emergency medical treatment, citing reports that his condition had become critical.⁠

Gilman’s release was conducted on humanitarian grounds and did not involve a publicly announced prisoner exchange. U.S. officials had repeatedly raised his case with Russian counterparts as his medical condition worsened, adding urgency to efforts seeking his return. His release removes one long-running detention case from an already strained area of U.S.-Russia relations, though several other Americans remain imprisoned or detained in Russia. Gilman is expected to undergo extensive evaluation and rehabilitation following his return as doctors assess the long-term effects of his imprisonment and recent medical crisis.