Mass. man held in Russian prison since 2022 nearing death, family says

Gilman, 32, was moved from prison to a civilian hospital after he fell into a dissociative stupor, a condition in which a person becomes unresponsive as a result of intense stress, according to Lebson

Irina Brazhnikova, Gilman’s lawyer, told Russian news outlets he was placed in the psychiatric ward of a civilian hospital in early July. Brazhnikova said defense lawyers have been barred from visiting, and she has lodged complaints with the local prosecutor’s office, the local branch of the Federal Penitentiary Service, and the prison hospital where Gilman is registered.

Lebson said Global Reach believes Gilman suffered severe mistreatment in the Russian prison. Both Global Reach and the Foley Foundation, another advocacy group also working on Gilman’s release, said they have received reports of possible physical abuse, solitary confinement, and forced drugging in the prison.

The Federal Penitentiary Service of the Russian Federation did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

On Thursday, Reuters reported an anonymous source familiar with the matter learned through State Department contacts that Secretary of State Marco Rubio brought up Gilman with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov during a meeting July 23 in the Philippines. The source told Reuters they didn’t know Lavrov’s response.

The White House did not immediately respond to questions from the Globe.

Lebson said one of the recognized care options for dissociative stupor is allowing a close family member to speak to the patient and attempt to coax them out of the state. Gilman’s mother obtained a Russian court order to visit her son and flew from Massachusetts to Russia, but was turned away by hospital officials upon arrival, Lebson said.

Elizabeth Richards, director of hostage advocacy and research at the Foley Foundation, said the secrecy surrounding Gilman’s condition was a source of “great concern.”

“Why wasn’t his mother allowed to see him? We have no evidence to answer that question,” Richards said. “That makes it very concerning. He needs to come home.”

Gilman is the son of Russian emigrees and was exploring a career in teaching after leaving the Marines.

In January 2022, while traveling through Russia, Gilman was convicted of beating a police officer and imprisoned. Russian state-run news outlet TASS reported at the time that Gilman was intoxicated and “disturbing the peace,” and that upon being taken to a police station, he kicked an officer in the leg.

In an October 2024 letter to the editor in The Boston Globe, Gilman’s father, Vladimir, disputed the account.

Vladimir Gilman said his son became ill while on a train and collapsed. He was briefly detained but released and given a Russian visa to recuperate, after which he briefly visited his aunt who lives in Russia.

Gilman reportedly noticed a few pages were missing from his passport, and while on his way to the US Embassy to have it repaired, he fell ill again. While there, he accidentally bumped into a police officer, which resulted in a 3½-year prison sentence — despite the officer being uninjured and dropping all charges, according to Vladimir Gilman and Global Reach.

Since then, Gilman’s family and Global Reach have said a “series of vague and escalating charges” were added to lengthen his prison time, much of which he was “goaded” into in prison “through forced drugging, provocations, and torture.” Last year, his sentence was extended to 10 years.

“I ​am more afraid for my brother than I have been since this horrible nightmare started. I’m worried that I ⁠may never see him again if the Russians don’t release him,” said Gilman’s sister, Lexie Hudson, in a statement provided by Global Reach. “It shouldn’t take an innocent American citizen being on the brink of death for our government to make their freedom a priority.”

On Thursday, US Senator Ed Markey released a statement expressing concern for Gilman’s condition and calling for his release.

“I am very worried that, if urgent action is not taken to release Robert [Gilman] so he can receive urgent medical care in the United States, his condition could become permanent, or he could die in Russian custody,” Markey said. “I implore the United States and Russian governments to find a solution before we find ourselves in a situation that will further complicate an already difficult relationship.”

Lebson said Markey and his team have been “absolutely fierce advocates” for Gilman’s release. Markey and fellow Senator Elizabeth Warren penned a letter to Rubio in April, urging the Department of State to take action to assist Gilman.

In the letter, Markey and Warren said Gilman’s family told them Russian officials visited Gilman in prison, where they reportedly told him his only option for freedom was to serve in the Russian Army for one year in the Russia-Ukraine War.

“If Gilman goes to Ukraine, his life will be put at imminent and immense risk. We urge the Department of State to do everything in its power to secure Gilman’s release from custody to prevent this needless tragedy,” the senators wrote.

When reached for comment, a State Department spokesperson told the Globe the department is “deeply concerned” about Gilman.

“Given these health concerns, the US government has raised his case repeatedly with the Russian government and has requested his release on humanitarian grounds,” the spokesperson said. “We take our commitment to assist Americans abroad seriously and will continue to track closely Mr. Gilman’s case.”

Richards, with the Foley Foundation, noted that while the State Department has spoken about Gilman’s case, it hasn’t yet recommended to Rubio to officially designate Gilman as wrongfully detained.

“That designation is critical in terms of unlocking support to the family to help them during a loved one’s detention as well as making sure Robert has in place the dedicated care and resources for when he comes back,” Richards said.

Richards said the Foley Foundation wasn’t sure why Gilman hasn’t received that designation, but suggested it could be a matter of US-Russia relations.

“Our research does show that we have seen bilateral concerns impact designation decisions before, and we are concerned that there could be bilateral concerns impacting the decision to not designate Robert Gilman at this time,” she said.

Richards said that while the Russian government has not explicitly confirmed Gilman’s military background played into his arrest, it’s not unlikely.

“Looking at that pattern of who they’ve detained in the past, Robert [Gilman], with his military background, fits that pattern,” Richards said.

Gilman is the third former US Marine to be arrested in Russia on contested charges and subjected to prolonged prison sentences.

In 2024, another former Marine held captive by the Russian government, Paul Whelan, was released as part of large prisoner exchange between the two countries after being held for six years on spying charges.

Chloe Craft can be reached at chloe.craft@globe.com.