US soldier jailed in Russia for criminal misconduct, exacerbating strained relations.
A US soldier has been arrested in Vladivostok on charges of theft in the latest high-profile detention of an American by Russia.
Russian state news agency RIA reported on Tuesday that the soldier, identified by the court as Gordon Black, would be held until July 2.
Speaking on condition of anonymity, U.S. officials told The Associated Press that the married soldier, Staff Sergeant Gordon Black, 34, was stationed in South Korea and was returning to Texas.
Instead, they said he traveled to Russia to meet a long-time girlfriend.
Another US official, who also spoke on condition of anonymity, told Reuters that Black had been accused of stealing from a woman.
The soldier’s arrest is likely to further complicate relations between the United States and Russia, which have become increasingly tense as the war in Ukraine has dragged on.
Cynthia Smith, a U.S. Army spokeswoman, confirmed that a soldier was arrested on criminal misconduct charges Thursday in Vladivostok, a major Pacific port. She said Russia notified the U.S. and the Army told the soldier’s family.
“The U.S. State Department is providing appropriate consular assistance to the soldier in Russia,” Smith said.
The soldier’s arrest was first reported by NBC News.
“Wrongfully arrested”
President Joe Biden’s administration has lobbied Moscow for the release of several Americans, including Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich.
Gershkovich, 32, became the first US journalist to be arrested on espionage charges in Russia since the Cold War when he was detained by the Federal Security Service (FSB) on March 29 last year. He, his newspaper and the US government all deny that he is a spy.
Gershkovich and Paul Whelan, an American convicted of espionage against Russia and sentenced to 16 years in prison in 2020, were both deemed “wrongfully imprisoned” by the U.S. State Department, meaning Washington accepted the allegations against them wrong and has committed to releasing work for them.
When asked about the soldier’s detention, a US State Department spokesman only confirmed that “a US citizen has been arrested in Russia.”
“We reiterate our strong warnings about the danger posed to U.S. citizens within the Russian Federation. “U.S. citizens residing or traveling in Russia should depart immediately, as indicated in our Russia travel advisory,” the State Department spokesperson said.
“For privacy and other reasons, we cannot provide further details at this time.”
The arrest comes less than a year after American soldier Travis King sprinted across the heavily fortified inter-Korean border into North Korea. North Korea later announced it would deport King, who was sent back to the United States. Eventually he was charged with desertion.