A U.S. soldier, Gordon Black, has been detained in the Russian city of Vladivostok until July 2 on charges of theft causing significant damage, according to a Russian court. The Pentagon stated that Black had traveled to Russia without authorization, adding to the diplomatic tensions between the two countries.
Black was arrested in early May in Vladivostok, located in Russia’s Far East. The Pervomaisky District Court of Vladivostok stated that he was detained for “secretly stealing the property of citizen T., causing significant damage.” The court justified the decision to detain Black until July 2 by stating that he could potentially evade the investigation and court proceedings to avoid responsibility.
The court’s press service identified the soldier as Gordon Black, confirming his identity. The Russian interior ministry in Vladivostok revealed that a 32-year-old woman had filed a complaint against the 34-year-old suspect. The two individuals had met in South Korea, and the woman accused Black of stealing money after an argument in Vladivostok. He was apprehended in a local hotel while in possession of a plane ticket to return home.
The Pentagon disclosed that Black not only violated Army regulations by traveling to Vladivostok without permission but also transited through China before his arrest in Russia. The incident has further strained the already delicate relations between the United States and Russia.