US soldier detained in Russia pleads guilty, state media reports
US soldier Gordon Black
A US soldier Gordon Black, being held in Russia’s Vladivostok city, has pleaded guilty to theft charges and is cooperating with investigators, Russia's RIA state news agencies reported on Thursday (May 16).
"The US soldier is cooperating with the investigation, he admitted guilt," RIA quoted a representative of the local interior ministry as saying.
Gordon Black, a US staff sergeant, was arrested on May 2 by police in the Russian city of Vladivostok on suspicion of theft from a woman he was in a relationship with.
The court ordered he remains detained until July 2.
Notably, the United States has warned its citizens against all travel to Russia, citing an array of reasons, including, possible harassment and the singling out of US citizens for detention by Russian government security officials and the arbitrary enforcement of the law.
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It is worth mentioning here, since theUkrainewar began in February 2022, the US has seen a small number of itscitizens taken into custody by Russia. One such case is Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, who faces spying accusations following his detention in 2023.
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)