American soldier detained in Russia for two months

An American soldier named Gordon Black has been arrested in Russia on suspicion of theft and will be detained for two months, a Russian district court announced on Tuesday. The soldier, who was stationed in South Korea, had taken leave to travel to Russia on his own. According to a US official, he was not AWOL at the time of the trip.

The Pervomaisky District Court of Vladivostok ruled that Black will remain in detention until July 2. The court statement accused him of committing secret theft of the property of a Russian citizen, causing significant psychological damage.

A Russian Foreign Ministry representative stated that the case is not related to politics or espionage, but rather a purely domestic crime. The representative office of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Vladivostok does not closely monitor the fate of the American citizen.

This arrest comes at a time of heightened tension between the US and Russia, particularly as the war with Ukraine continues. There are several Americans currently being held in Russia, including two individuals declared as wrongfully detained by the US State Department.

Black was scheduled to move to Ft. Cavazos in Texas in the future, but the official could not provide a specific date for the change of station. The situation remains ongoing as investigations into the alleged theft continue.