Russia has released former US Marine Robert Gilman, who had been jailed since 2022 for attacking a police officer. Gilman was sentenced to a total of 10 years in prison in Voronezh, Russia, but was freed on humanitarian grounds on August 11, 2026, after spending 1,666 days in custody.

Gilman’s situation worsened in 2024 when Russian authorities found him guilty of attacking a prison inspector during a cell check, assaulting an investigator, and beating another guard. In December 2025, his prison sentence was extended again after a regional court convicted him of a new assault on prison staff.

Photos and video released on August 12, 2026, show Gilman arriving safely back on American soil at Andrews Air Force Base in Washington, D.C., where he was greeted by Steve Witkoff, the U.S. special envoy to the Middle East, and Sebastian Gorka, a deputy assistant to the president. Witkoff described it as a "special night welcoming an American citizen home to his family and country."

President Donald Trump announced Gilman’s return and noted that after speaking with him, Gilman had one request — "A GREAT cheeseburger when he lands." As promised, Witkoff brought Gilman cheeseburgers and milkshakes. Additionally, a member of the White House team presented Gilman with his own USMC flag, underscoring the administration's commitment to the principle of "No American left behind."

Former hostage negotiator Dan O'Shea highlighted the significance of the release, noting it was achieved without a prisoner swap, marking a breakthrough in wrongful detentions of American citizens overseas.

Sources