In Russia’s latest high-profile detention of an American, a United States soldier named Gordon Black has been detained in Vladivostok on charges of theft.
According to Russia’s RIA state news agency, Black will remain in detention until July as per the court’s decision.
Speaking anonymously to the Associated Press news agency, US officials revealed that Staff Sergeant Gordon Black, 34, who is married and stationed in South Korea, diverted his return journey to Texas to visit a long-term girlfriend in Russia.
Another unnamed US official informed Reuters that Black is accused of theft from a woman.
This incident is poised to further strain US-Russia relations, already tense due to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
Cynthia Smith, a spokeswoman for the US Army, confirmed the soldier’s detention in Vladivostok, emphasising that the US Department of State is providing consular support to Black in Russia.
The soldier’s arrest was initially reported by NBC News. President Joe Biden’s administration has been actively urging Moscow to release several Americans, including Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich.
Gershkovich, 32, made headlines as the first US journalist arrested on spying charges in Russia since the Cold War.
He was apprehended by the Federal Security Service (FSB) on March 29 last year. Both Gershkovich, his employer, and the US government vehemently deny the espionage accusations against him.
Alongside Gershkovich, Paul Whelan, an American sentenced to 16 years in 2020 on spying charges, has also been designated by the US State Department as “wrongfully detained”.
This designation signifies that Washington regards the charges against them as baseless and is actively advocating for their release.
In response to inquiries about the soldier’s detention, a spokesperson from the US State Department confirmed only that “a US citizen has been detained in Russia”.
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