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After more than 1,660 days in Russian custody, U.S. Marine veteran Robert Gilman is finally home — but new details about his deteriorated health following the years-long “nightmare” suggest his ordeal is far from over.
“He’s very frail,” Kieran Ramsey, a representative for the Gilman family, told “America’s Newsroom” on Wednesday.
“If you’ve seen any of the photos that the White House has since released, you can see just how frail he is.”
AMERICAN EX-MARINE FEARED NEAR DEATH AFTER WEEKS IN CATATONIC STATE IN RUSSIAN PRISON
Gilman, who was released from Russian captivity Tuesday, was unable to walk off the plane on his own, Ramsey said. He will also require extensive mental and psychological care, along with physical and dental treatment, as he begins what is expected to be a lengthy recovery.
Massachusetts Democratic Sen. Ed Markey, who worked on Gilman’s case, also blamed Russia on Tuesday while stating that the complete details of Gilman’s condition remain unknown.
He shared that Gilman had been subjected to “physical torture, forced medication and provocations by the Russian government.”
“This was an over 1,600-day nightmare that this man lived through,” Ramsey echoed. “This former Marine, this fellow American was subjected to severe physical abuse if not torture, mental abuse, mental torture. We just can’t even imagine it.”
US MARINE VETERAN RELEASED FROM RUSSIAN PRISON AFTER 1,666 DAYS OF DETENTION
Gilman’s ordeal began after traveling to Russia while en route to Moldova. Per reports, Gilman became seriously ill during the trip and was later arrested on charges of assaulting police officers — allegations that many have characterized as false.
Ramsey said Gilman’s case fits a broader pattern of Russia targeting Americans, including former U.S. Marines, and then piling additional charges onto detainees once they are in custody.
He pointed to the cases of fellow Marine veterans Trevor Reed and Paul Whelan as examples, urging officials to bring any remaining Americans home.
“Unfortunately, Robert’s case is no different. And the tragic thing is, we have at least ten other Americans, five of whom my firm represents, that are also facing the same thing, and we really need to get these folks home,” he said.
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Ramsey credited Trump for Gilman’s return later in the segment, reiterating his hope that the president and special envoy Steve Witkoff will work to free those who remain overseas.
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