Russian President Vladimir Putin pardoned the 32-year-old on humanitarian grounds following a desperate US push to bring him home for medical treatment. His father, Vladimir Gilman, wrote in a 2024 Boston Globe op-ed that his son had become ill and accidentally kicked the officer. Gilman was initially sentenced over the incident before later facing additional allegations that he assaulted Russian prison and law-enforcement officials. His release came after intense negotiations between American and Russian officials over the weekend. AdvertisementSenior Russian official Yuri Ushakov informed Trump aides last week that Putin had agreed to pardon Gilman for humanitarian reasons, US officials told Reuters.