Russia has unexpectedly freed a former US Marine, Robert Gilman, who had been languishing in prison since 2022. The 32-year-old English teacher was arrested in the southern Russian city of Voronezh after allegedly kicking a police officer while drunk, a claim his family has vehemently denied. Despite his family's protestations of innocence, Gilman was sentenced to a lengthy four and a half years in prison. However, in a surprise move, Russian President Vladimir Putin has granted Gilman a pardon on humanitarian grounds, citing his rapidly deteriorating health and reported catatonic state. As details of Gilman's case come to light, questions are being raised about the fairness of his trial and the motivations behind Putin's decision to release him.
Robert Gilman had been deteriorating rapidly in prison and was said to be in a catatonic stateRussia has freed a former US marine who had been in jail since 2022, after Vladimir Putin granted the ailing American a pardon on humanitarian grounds.Robert Gilman, 32, an English teacher who briefly served in the US Marines, was travelling by train when he was arrested in the southern Russian city of Voronezh in January 2022 for allegedly kicking a police officer while drunk, according to Russian state media. He was later sentenced to four and a half years in prison, though his family has consistently denied the allegations against him. Continue reading...
