Former U.S. Marine held in Russia on disputed charges has been released

This photo provided by the family shows Robert Gilman and his sister, Lexie Hudson, in Lilburn, Ga., in 2019. Gilman family/via AP hide caption toggle caption Gilman family/via AP WASHINGTON — Russia released an American military veteran on Tuesday, allowing his return to the U.S. after four years of what his family and U.S. officials allege was wrongful incarceration and abusive treatment that left him near death. Robert Gilman, a 32-year-old Massachusetts teacher and former Marine, was freed after President Donald Trump said he spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin about his release, which Trump said was "very much on a Humanitarian Basis." "We appreciate this decision, and the fact that Russia asked for no one in return — No exchange took place," Trump said on his Truth Social platform. Arrests of Americans have become increasingly common in Russia in recent years. Concern has risen that Russia could be targeting U.S. nationals to use later as bargaining chips in talks to bring back Russians convicted of crimes in the U.S. and Europe. Five other Americans remain imprisoned in Russia with deteriorating medical issues, according to a news release from Global Reach, a group t...