The health of Robert Gilman, an American former Marine held in Russian custody since 2022, has become the focus of growing concern as his family and US officials push for his release on humanitarian grounds.
Eric Lebson, chief strategy officer for Global Reach, an advocacy group representing Gilman’s family, said the 32 year old has experienced a severe deterioration in his condition. According to Lebson, Gilman has been in a state of severely reduced awareness for more than six weeks and has been transferred from a prison medical facility to a civilian psychiatric hospital.
The US State Department said it is deeply concerned about both Gilman’s health and his continued detention. American officials have repeatedly raised his case with Russian authorities and requested that he be released because of his medical condition.
Gilman’s family says the situation has become increasingly urgent. His mother traveled to Russia with authorization from a Russian court to visit him but, according to the family’s representative, she has not been allowed to see him since his transfer to the civilian hospital.
That lack of access has intensified fears among his relatives, who say they have limited information about his current condition.
Gilman was arrested in Russia in January 2022 following an incident involving a police officer. Russian authorities alleged that he was intoxicated and became involved in a confrontation with the officer.
His advocate disputes that account, saying Gilman was struck by police, became ill and accidentally kicked an officer during the incident.
He was ultimately sentenced to four and a half years in prison.
Gilman’s case has drawn particular attention because he is a former US Marine and joins a small group of former American service members who have faced detention in Russia.
Former Marines Trevor Reed and Paul Whelan, both of whom were previously detained in Russia, have publicly urged the US government to act on Gilman’s behalf. They have pointed to their own experiences in Russian detention and stressed the importance of ensuring that Gilman receives appropriate medical attention.
For Gilman’s family, the priority is no longer simply securing his freedom but doing so quickly enough to address his deteriorating health.
His sister, Lexie Hudson, has appealed to the US government to make his release an urgent diplomatic priority. She said the family fears they could lose the opportunity to bring him home if action is delayed.
The case also carries wider diplomatic implications. Relations between Washington and Moscow remain highly complicated, while the Trump administration has sought to maintain communication with Russian officials despite major disagreements between the two governments.
Gilman’s family has said they were informed that Secretary of State Marco Rubio raised his case with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov during a meeting in the Philippines in late July.
The United States continues to face difficulties in securing the release of Americans detained in Russia. Several other US citizens remain in Russian custody, although their legal circumstances and official classifications differ.
The State Department has designated some Americans detained abroad as wrongfully detained, a classification that can lead to additional diplomatic efforts aimed at securing their release.
For Robert Gilman, the immediate concern is his health and access to appropriate care. His family and advocates are calling for urgent action, while US officials say they continue to press Moscow over his detention.
As diplomatic efforts continue, Gilman’s case highlights the difficult position faced by Americans detained in countries where Washington has limited influence. For his relatives, however, the issue is much more personal: they want him brought home and reunited with his family before his situation becomes even more serious.
