Kieran Ramsey, Chief Investigative Officer for Global Reach and family representative for former U.S. Marine Robert Gilman, detailed the severe physical and psychological abuse Gilman endured during his 1,666 days of wrongful detention in Russia. Ramsey's account, shared in an interview with Fox News Digital, highlighted the extent of the mistreatment Gilman faced and underscored the urgent need for the release of five other Americans currently held in Russian facilities.

Gilman was released to U.S. authorities on Tuesday, a repatriation facilitated by efforts spearheaded by President Donald Trump. Ramsey credited Trump's administration with a "full court press" to secure Gilman's release on humanitarian grounds, involving senior officials and quiet diplomacy.

Gilman's ordeal began in 2022 when he was arrested in Voronezh, Russia. He had initially been transiting through Moscow en route to a teaching job in Moldova. While in Moscow, he became seriously ill and, seeking to renew his passport at the U.S. Embassy, fell violently ill again. Russian police encountered him, mistakenly believing he was intoxicated, and an altercation ensued, leading to his arrest and subsequent detention.

Torture and Psychological Warfare

According to Ramsey, Gilman experienced what he described as "psychological warfare" while imprisoned. This included physical beatings, being forced to exercise, and being compelled to fight other inmates. Ramsey stated that Gilman was subjected to fabricated threats, such as being told a hit team was dispatched to assault his father in Boston. Ramsey characterized these claims as "totally psychological mumbo-jumbo disinformation campaign to make him feel awful."

Gilman is currently recuperating in a U.S. hospital with his family. He has a long road to recovery, but received immediate medical care after being designated a wrongful detainee by the State Department.

Five Other Americans Detained

Global Reach also represents five other Americans detained in Russia whom Ramsey believes meet the criteria for wrongful detainment under the Robert Levinson Hostage-Taking and Accountability Act. Ramsey expressed concern that a policy debate within the State Department might be delaying their designation as wrongfully detained, potentially impacting diplomatic negotiations.

Ramsey detailed the cases of these five individuals:

  • Alexander Antonov, an international businessman with interests in Russian-occupied Crimea and Ukraine, was detained over a year ago. He was en route home from a business trip when he was stopped by Russian authorities, who identified his U.S. passport. He was recently assaulted by another inmate and continues to report harassment for being American.
  • David Barnes, a Texas native, has been imprisoned for over four years. He traveled to Russia to retrieve his children after his Russian ex-wife, involved in a contentious custody battle, made unsubstantiated criminal claims against him.
  • Olga Jezler, a 36-year-old green card holder residing in New York, was detained after flying to Russia to care for her sick sister. Despite the CBD oil she carried being legal in Russia, authorities charged her with drug trafficking. Jezler suffers from significant health issues that are treatable in the U.S.
  • Andre Khachatoorian has been in prison for over four years. He was transiting through Russia to reach Armenia while transporting a rifle with what Ramsey asserts were proper documents. He suffers from a worsening autoimmune disease.
  • Chuck Zimmerman, from Virginia, was apprehended by the Russian Navy in international waters in the Black Sea while rerouting due to the war in Iran. He was ordered to a Russian port under threat of being sunk. He faces charges of international arms trafficking due to a firearm on his vessel. Zimmerman, who has been imprisoned for over a year, is experiencing severe medical issues, including a bleeding gastric ulcer, and is rapidly losing weight and hope.

Ramsey emphasized the critical need to maintain pressure on Russia and ensure these individuals' names are known, urging the U.S. government to do everything possible to secure their release. He stated, "We don't want to lose momentum right now."