On Tuesday, Russia detained a US soldier in Vladivostok until July on suspicion of theft, adding to the number of US citizens held in the country amid tensions over Moscow’s Ukraine invasion.
The soldier, identified as Gordon Black, faces criminal charges, with details withheld due to the case’s sensitivity, according to the US Army.
Vladivostok’s Primorye regional court stated that Black, detained on May 2, will remain in pre-trial custody until July 2 for theft, reported Ria Novosti news agency.
City police in Vladivostok arrested a 34-year-old foreigner, launching a criminal case for theft causing significant harm to the victim, potentially punishable by up to five years in prison.
The suspect, held in a pre-trial detention center, had a relationship with a Russian woman working in South Korea, leading to a conflict and the subsequent theft allegations.
Russian officials emphasized that the case was unrelated to politics or espionage, describing it as a domestic crime.
The US Army confirmed that the soldier’s family had been notified and that he was receiving consular support.
NBC News reported that the soldier, stationed in South Korea, stopped in Russia without permission while returning to the United States.
Republican Congressman Michael McCaul expressed concern, citing historical tensions and advising against travel to Russia.
In a separate incident, a US citizen received a 10-day detention sentence for petty hooliganism after allegedly trespassing and falling asleep in a children’s library while intoxicated.
