US soldier arrested in Russia for theft to be detained until July

An American soldier has been arrested in Russia charged with stealing, according to two US officials.

The soldier, identified asStaff Sgt Gordon Black, will be detained until July, a court in Vladivostok said on Tuesday (May 7).

Black was previously positioned in South Korea.

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He was en route back to Fort Cavazos in Texas, his home base.

However, authorities reported that he made an unexpected detour to Russia.

Cynthia Smith, an army spokesperson, confirmed that on Thursday (May 2), a serviceman was taken into custody in Vladivostok, a significant commercial and military hub on the Pacific coast, due to allegations of unlawful behaviour.

The Russian authorities informed the United States, and the military subsequently reached out to the soldier's relatives.

“The US state department is providing appropriate consular support to the soldier in Russia,” Smith said.

It was unclear on Monday if the soldier is considered absent without leave.

The arrest of the US soldier comes less than a year after another American soldier Travis King sprinted into North Korea across the heavily fortified border between the Koreas.

North Korea later announced that it would expel Travis King, who was returned to the US. King was eventually charged with desertion.

Russia is currently holding a number of Americans in its jails, including corporate security executive Paul Whelan and Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich.

The US government has designated both as wrongfully detained and has been trying to negotiate their release.

Among others in custody are Travis Leake, a musician with years of residency in Russia, apprehended last year on allegations linked to narcotics; Marc Fogel, an educator based in Moscow, who received a 14-year prison term also due to drug-related accusations; and dual citizens Alsu Kurmasheva and Ksenia Khavana.

(With inputs from agencies)