Robert Gilman, a U.S. citizen and former Marine, has been freed from years of detention in Russia on humanitarian grounds, a State Department spokesperson confirmed Tuesday.

Gilman's release comes after he was sentenced to four and a half years in a prison colony in 2022 for allegedly assaulting a Russian police officer. His family has consistently denied the charges, asserting that Russian authorities have wrongfully detained him for political reasons.

The former Marine's release was reportedly prompted by severe concerns regarding his health. According to an organization advocating for his family, Gilman is en route to a U.S. military hospital in Texas for medical and psychological evaluation and treatment. His mother, who had been in Russia attempting to visit him, has flown to Texas to be with him.

Gilman, 32, had been detained since 2022. He was accused of kicking a police officer at a train station after falling ill while visiting family outside of Moscow. Gilman had previously served in the U.S. Marine Corps and founded an English language school in Poland. He was in Moldova teaching at the time of his visit to Russia.

The State Department spokesperson highlighted the administration's efforts, stating that President Trump and Special Envoy Witkoff were instrumental in Gilman's release. The spokesperson added that Gilman joins over 100 Americans freed during President Trump's second term and affirmed the administration's continued commitment to securing the release of all Americans unjustly detained in Russia, including Stephen Hubbard.

President Donald Trump stated that he had discussed Gilman's case with Russian President Vladimir Putin and that Russia requested no concessions or exchanges in return for his release. Trump announced that Gilman would be landing at Andrews Air Force Base in Washington, D.C., that evening, and mentioned that Gilman's first request upon arrival was for a cheeseburger.

Gilman's sister, Lexie Hudson, expressed gratitude to President Trump and Senator Ed Markey for their roles in his release. She conveyed that her brother was mistreated by Russian authorities due to his American and Marine identities. Gilman was recently designated as a wrongful detainee, and his release did not involve any prisoner exchange or other concessions, according to the State Department.