A former US marine who spent more than four years in a prison in Russia under alleged abusive conditions was released by Moscow after a pardon by President Vladimir Putin under humanitarian reasons, US officials said.
What Happened
He was being held in a prison in Voronezh, about 340 miles (550 kilometers) south of Moscow, Reuters news agency reported. The White House and the State Department had urged Russia to release Gilman so that he can receive medical treatment in US. The exact circumstances of his health are unclear. He is on his way to a US military hospital in Texas. Gilman was one of at least eight Americans who remained in Russian custody after a series of high-profile prisoner exchanges with the US in recent years.
Family Supports Gilman in Texas Hospital
Gilman has been transferred from a Russian prison to a civilian emergency hospital in Texas, where he is currently receiving medical care. He has been placed in a psychiatric ward and is being treated with a feeding tube, while also being restrained to the bed with handcuffs. In response to his situation, his family has traveled to Texas to be by his side, including his mother, who previously attempted to visit him in Russia.
