Russia Frees Ailing Former US Marine
Russia has released Robert Gilman, a former US Marine held for around four years, and he is returning to the United States, President Trump said. The release was reportedly granted on humanitarian grounds, without a prisoner exchange. Gilman’s family had said he was gravely ill, with reports of pneumonia.
Gilman had been detained since 2021 and jailed after altercations that his supporters said stemmed from his deteriorating health and treatment in custody. That Moscow let him go without demanding a swap is notable at a time of deep hostility between the two capitals, and Mr Trump presented it as a goodwill gesture. His family had campaigned for his release, warning he was close to death. The case adds to a list of Americans freed from Russian jails in recent years, often as bargaining chips. Watch whether the gesture signals any wider thaw or is a one-off on humanitarian grounds.