US President appreciates Russia's humanitarian release of an American prisoner
Washington, Aug 11 (KUNA) – U.S. President Donald Trump expressed appreciation on Tuesday for Russia’s decision to release a former U.S. Marine on humanitarian grounds, without demanding his inclusion in a prisoner swap. Trump announced on his Truth Social platform: “I am pleased to announce that American citizen Robert Gillman, a former U.S. Marine, is returning home.” He added, “Following my discussions with President Vladimir Putin, Russia agreed to release him, primarily for humanitarian reasons. We appreciate this decision and the fact that Russia did not demand anyone in return, as no exchange took place.”
Trump stated that Gillman, 32, who had spent four years in a Russian prison after being sentenced to four and a half years by a Russian court for assaulting a police officer, “will arrive tonight at Andrews Air Force Base in Washington, D.C., where representatives, including some who will accompany him on the plane, will welcome his return to the United States.”
He thanked his team, “including Special Envoy for Peace Missions Steve Witkoff, Special Envoy for Hostage Affairs Adam Boehler, Senior Counterterrorism Director Sebastian Gorka, Jared Kushner, and many others who made this possible.”
On his part, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio thanked Russia for its cooperation in securing Gillman’s release and emphasized the need to free Americans “wrongfully detained” abroad. Rubio said in a statement released by the U.S. State Department: “Mr. Gillman joins more than 100 Americans whom President Trump secured the release of during his second term. We thank Russia for its cooperation with Special Envoy Steve Witkoff in securing Mr. Gillman’s release and allowing him to receive necessary medical treatment here in the United States.” He added, “While we appreciate this positive step, we continue to pursue the immediate return of all other wrongfully detained Americans.”
The U.S. State Department had previously designated Gillman as a “wrongfully detained” American earlier this August, after he had spent more than four years in Russian prisons since his arrest in January 2022, during which his health had deteriorated significantly. (End) R.S.R. / R.J.
