Robert Gilman, a US Navy veteran who was imprisoned in Russia for more than four years, was almost “at death’s door” before he was freed this week, according to a hostage crisis expert who advocated for Gilman’s release. The 32-year-old is now in Texas, where he faces a long road to recovery, said Kieran Ramsey, research director for Global Reach, an organization that worked to free him. Gilman, a Massachusetts teacher, was detained in Russia beginning in 2022. Concerns about his health came into focus last week when Global Reach chief strategy officer Eric Lebson said Gilman was being held in a Russian hospital in a “dissociative stupor” and being fed through a tube. “We had to wait until we were almost at death’s door with him to be able to push for the right kind of action that got him released,” Ramsey told CBS News on Thursday. “And we are grateful that he is back on American soil right now.” Gilman is being treated at Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio, where he “receives the best medical care in the world,” Ramsey said. Robert Gilman, left, on a plane after his release from Russia. President Trump/Truth Social Lebson claimed last week that Russian authorities subjected Gilman to mistreatment, including harassment, forced exercise sessions lasting up to 16 hours, and the administration of psychotropic drugs. Lebson also alleged that Gilman was pressured to fight in Ukraine. CBS News has not independently verified those claims. Russian officials have not responded publicly. A State Department spokesperson told CBS News that the Trump administration had repeatedly raised his case with the Russian government and requested his release on humanitarian grounds, given Gilman’s health concerns. “The situation with Robert goes far beyond what we have seen with any other American detained in Russia,” Lebson said. The Trump administration previously secured the release of several other Americans detained in Russia. Many others remain detained in the country. “We have another 10 in Russia,” Ramsey said. “We have two designated in Iran. We have one designated in China. Hopefully he can bring all of these people home as soon as possible.” Olivia Gazis and Margaret Brennan contributed to this report. More from CBS News Go deeper with The Free Press in:
