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Advocates for former U.S. Marine held for years in Russia say he is near death

BOSTON (AP) — A former U.S. Marine held in Russia for more than four years on disputed charges is gravely ill and at risk of dying, his family and advocates said Friday. Robert Gilman, a 32-year-old teacher detained since 2022, has been in "a dissociative stupor" for 47 days due to the abuse he has suffered in prison, said Eric Lebson, chief strategy officer of Global Reach, an advocacy group representing the family. Since Tuesday, Gilman has had a high fever and high blood pressure. Lebson said he has been moved from a prison to a civilian hospital, where he is hooked up to a feeding tube and handcuffed to a bed.

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Scoop News DeskU.S · Published Friday, August 7, 2026 at 11:41 PM UTCUpdated Sunday, August 9, 2026 at 9:39 PM UTC

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Brazhnikova said defense lawyers have not been able to visit their client, prompting her to lodge complaints to the local prosecutor's office, the local branch of the Federal Penitentiary Service, and to the prison hospital, where Gilman is registered. "I am more afraid for my brother than I have been since this horrible nightmare started," Lexie Hudson, Gilman's sister, said in a statement. "I'm worried that I may never see him again if the Russians don't release him. The business daily Kommersant reported that Gilman pleaded guilty to the charges and apologized to the guards he was charged with assaulting.

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Dated changes to this report are shown here as they are published.

Version 2published
Saturday, August 8, 2026 at 4:39 AM UTC
A former U.S. Marine held in Russia for more than four years on disputed charges is gravely ill and at risk of dying, his family and advocates said Friday.
Version 3unpublished
Sunday, August 9, 2026 at 8:25 PM UTC
Removed by Scoope Timeline eligibility policy
Version 4updated
Sunday, August 9, 2026 at 8:25 PM UTC
BOSTON (AP) — A former U.S. Marine held in Russia for more than four years on disputed charges is gravely ill and at risk of dying, his family and advocates said Friday. Robert Gilman, a 32-year-old teacher detained since 2022, has been in "a dissociative stupor" for 47 days due to the abuse he has suffered in prison, said Eric Lebson, chief strategy officer of Global Reach, an advocacy group representing the family. Since Tuesday, Gilman has had a high fever and high blood pressure. Lebson said he has been moved from a prison to a civilian hospital, where he is hooked up to a feeding tube and handcuffed to a bed.
Version 5unpublished
Sunday, August 9, 2026 at 8:59 PM UTC
Removed by Scoope Timeline eligibility policy
Version 6published
Sunday, August 9, 2026 at 9:23 PM UTC
BOSTON (AP) — A former U.S. Marine held in Russia for more than four years on disputed charges is gravely ill and at risk of dying, his family and advocates said Friday. Robert Gilman, a 32-year-old teacher detained since 2022, has been in "a dissociative stupor" for 47 days due to the abuse he has suffered in prison, said Eric Lebson, chief strategy officer of Global Reach, an advocacy group representing the family. Since Tuesday, Gilman has had a high fever and high blood pressure. Lebson said he has been moved from a prison to a civilian hospital, where he is hooked up to a feeding tube and handcuffed to a bed.
Version 7unpublished
Sunday, August 9, 2026 at 9:39 PM UTC
Removed by Scoope Timeline eligibility policy