Russia releases former US Marine Robert Gilman after two years in prison

Moscow announced the release of former U.S. Marine Robert Gilman, who had been incarcerated in Russia since 2022 after a court convicted him of assaulting a police officer during a protest in St. Petersburg. Gilman, who had been serving a multi‑year sentence, was freed following a decision by Russian authorities to grant him a pardon, a move that was communicated through the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs without further elaboration on the legal rationale.

U.S. officials confirmed that Gilman has returned to the United States and expressed appreciation for the diplomatic channels that facilitated his release, while noting that the case had been closely monitored by both governments. The release concludes a high‑profile legal episode that had drawn attention to the treatment of foreign nationals in Russian courts and underscores ongoing diplomatic engagement between the two nations.