January 17th marks the fourth year that US citizen Robert Gilman has been detained in Russia. President Donald Trump has made returning Americans from overseas detention a national priority, and the progress he has made has been nothing short of miraculous. But Robert’s life hangs in the balance and it takes a concerted effort to bring him home.
Interpreting the story always starts with two questions: Why is he there? What did he do?
Robert, who grew up in Lowell, Massachusetts, will be 32 years old in March. He served in the U.S. Marine Corps and then went to Europe to teach English. He fell ill during a transfer in Moscow on his way to Moldova to find a new job. When he woke up, his luggage had been searched and his passport damaged. On January 17, 2022, he stopped briefly in Russia to visit relatives. On his way to the U.S. Embassy to renew his passport, he was accosted by the police at the train station. These are all facts.
“What did he do” is a more difficult question to answer because everything in Russia requires context. During an interaction with the police – possibly due to hearing Robert speaking English – he was hit with a baton and arrested. We believe he suffered a concussion when he was dragged to the police station. While he was handcuffed to the bench, he leaned over and vomited – possibly the result of a concussion – and accidentally kicked an officer. The officer was not injured and told officers there was no need to charge Robert.
But that’s not the true story.
True stories of what happened to American citizens in Russia
U.S. Marine Corps veteran Robert Gilman stands in the defendants’ enclosure during a court hearing in Voronezh, Russia, in 2024.
The real story is that Russia has been engaging in hostage diplomacy for years.
The Russians found an American and made an arrest—on what basis it didn’t matter. You might know some of the names: Brittney Griner, Evan Gershkovich, Paul Whelan, Ksenia Karelina, Trevor Reed.
Viewpoint: The release of Paul Whelan and Evan Gershkovich won’t mean much for Russia-U.S. relations
Once you enter the Russian system, Moscow can add charges, extend your sentence, and use you as leverage in eventual deals with Washington.
This is what happened to Robert. He was tortured and subjected to endless provocations, so his only way home was through trade.
How the Russo-Ukrainian War Shaped Robert Gilman’s Fate
Robert Gilman enlisted in the Marine Corps in 2019. He has been imprisoned in Russia since January 17, 2022.
There are two other facts about Robert’s case worth explaining:
First, he was arrested in January 2022. This is a prelude to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. The James W. Foley Legacy Foundation, which tracks inappropriate detentions around the world, reported an increase in such arrests from late 2021 to early 2022 in Russia, which is on the verge of invasion.
Additionally, Robert is the third former Marine to be arrested in Russia. Trevor Reed was held for 985 days (released in April 2022) and Paul Whelan was held for 2,043 days (released in August 2024). Robert has been there for more than 1,460 days, with no end in sight.
Viewpoint: US peace plan for Ukraine abandons those who need it most
His family’s contacts with the State Department and National Security Council tell us that Russian and U.S. officials are ready to communicate but are waiting for progress on Ukraine.
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Our U.S. members from Massachusetts — Senators Edward Markey and Elizabeth Warren and Representatives Seth Moulton and Lori Trahan — wrote letters about Robert to Secretary of State Antony Blinken and now to Secretary of State Marco Rubio. But we are still waiting.
On the fourth anniversary of Robert’s arrest, the Gilman family hopes President Trump and Special Envoy Steve Witkoff don’t wait for Ukraine.
As President Trump has said, the freedom of Americans held in Russian custody needs to be a national priority.
Eric Lebson is a former national security official who works to bring Americans detained abroad through the nonprofit Global Reach.
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This article originally appeared in USA Today: Who is Robert Gilman? Trump, please bring Marine veterans home | Opinion
