Robert Gilman, ex-Marine held in Russia, feared near death after 46 days tube-fed in civilian hospital
Advocacy groups representing former U.S. Marine Robert Gilman warned Thursday that he may be near death. Gilman, imprisoned in Russia since January 2022, has been tube-fed for more than 46 days after falling into what…
Key takeaways
- Advocacy groups warned Thursday that former U.S. Marine Robert Gilman, imprisoned in Russia since January 2022, may be near death after being tube-fed for more than 46 days.
- Gilman fell into what assessors called a "dissociative stupor" in June and was transferred in late June to the psychiatric ward of a civilian emergency hospital in Voronezh.
- Russian authorities have blocked both his mother and his lawyer from visiting him, despite a judicial order permitting the mother's access.
- Secretary of State Marco Rubio raised Gilman's case directly with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in Manila on July 23, and the State Department is pressing for his release on emergency medical grounds.
- Gilman was first arrested in January 2022 for allegedly assaulting a police officer on a train and, after further convictions, had his sentence extended in December to a total of 10 years.
Advocacy groups representing former U.S. Marine Robert Gilman warned Thursday that he may be near death. Gilman, imprisoned in Russia since January 2022, has been tube-fed for more than 46 days after falling into what assessors called a "dissociative stupor" in June. Russian authorities have blocked both his mother and his lawyer from visiting him, despite a judicial order permitting the mother's access.
What the family's advocates are saying
Eric Lebson, chief strategy officer of Global Reach, told Fox News Digital that Gilman was transferred in late June from a prison hospital to the psychiatric ward of a civilian emergency hospital in Voronezh. Lebson said Russia has not been responsive to outreach, and that Gilman's mother flew to Russia only to be turned away at the hospital. "The Russians have not allowed his mother to see him, which raises our level of concern that something serious has now happened," Lebson said. Hostage advocates and Gilman's sister said they believe he may have been tortured and injected with mind-altering drugs before entering the stupor.
The Foley Foundation, a separate advocacy group tracking the case, echoed those concerns. Elizabeth Richards, the foundation's director of hostage advocacy and research, told Reuters that Gilman does not appear to be receiving adequate care. His sister, Lexie Hudson, said in a statement she fears she may never see him again.
The U.S. government's posture
The State Department and the National Security Council have engaged Russian counterparts, pressing for Gilman's immediate release on emergency medical grounds. Secretary of State Marco Rubio raised the case directly with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov at a meeting in Manila on July 23. The State Department said it is "deeply concerned about Robert Gilman's health and continued detention."
A senior administration official told Fox News Digital that the Trump administration is closely tracking the case and has made repeated, direct outreach to Russian officials calling for Gilman's return to the United States.
How he came to be in Russian custody
Gilman, from Dracut, Massachusetts, was first arrested in January 2022 after fellow passengers on a train from Sochi to Moscow reported him as intoxicated and disruptive. He had been traveling to replace a damaged passport. A Russian court convicted him of assaulting a police officer and sentenced him to 3.5 years. Gilman told the court he believed his drink had been spiked.
Further convictions tied to altercations with prison staff and an investigator followed. A regional court extended his sentence in December, bringing his total to 10 years. His father, Vladimir Gilman, asked the State Department in March 2023 to formally designate Robert as wrongfully detained. He is one of at least 10 Americans currently known to be imprisoned in Russia.