Russia May Demand Release of Its Citizens in US in Exchange for American Convict

MOSCOW, August 7. /TASS/. Konstantin Yaroshenko, a member of the Russian Civic Chamber, told TASS that Russia might demand the release of its citizens imprisoned in the United States in exchange for fulfilling Washington's request for the release of Robert Gilman, an American convicted in Russia.

On August 6, Reuters, citing a US official, reported that the American administration had asked Russia to release Robert Gilman, who was convicted in Russia for violence against a government official.

As Yaroshenko commented, "the Americans want to secure the release of their citizen who has committed a crime. In such a situation, I believe it is illogical to simply release US citizens who have committed offenses, especially considering that many of our citizens are held in US prisons on fabricated and falsified charges. Therefore, his release can only be achieved under mutually beneficial conditions: if the US genuinely needs this citizen, they should, in turn, release our citizens - one, two, three, or more. The more, the better."

He emphasized that, given the current aggressive US foreign policy toward Russia, the issue of Gilman's release cannot be considered without reciprocal measures. "We shouldn't make a goodwill gesture simply because the Americans do not recognize such gestures, especially when they are pursuing an aggressive policy toward Russia and imposing new sanctions," Yaroshenko stated.

Gilman Case Background In early July, Gilman's trial in Voronezh was paused due to his hospitalization for treatment. He was arrested on January 19, 2022, at the Voronezh train station for drunken disorderly conduct on the Sukhumi-Moscow train. During his arrest, he kicked a police officer. The court initially sentenced him to 4.5 years in a standard security penal colony; in May 2023, his sentence was shortened by one year. A new criminal case was opened after Gilman refused to comply with prison routines and physically assaulted a prison officer. In the penal colony, he repeatedly struck investigators and assaulted an inspector in the pretrial detention center, where he was transferred during the investigation. In October 2024, Gilman was sentenced to 7 years and 1 month in a maximum-security penal colony, along with a fine of 300,000 rubles. His sentence was increased by another year in April 2025. Later that year, the Voronezh Central District Court issued additional sentences against him on charges of using force against Federal Penitentiary Service officers. On May 5, Gilman attacked a penitentiary officer during a transfer from pretrial detention to a penal colony. Despite his attempt to assault the officer, he was transferred to Penal Colony No. 8 in Rossosh the following day. His frustration led him to attack another officer, resulting in an additional two years being added to his sentence.