The mother of U.S. soldier Gordon Black, who was detained in Russia on accusations of stealing from his girlfriend, believes he was set up. Black, a 34-year-old Army Staff Sgt., met the Russian woman while stationed in South Korea, and his mother, Melody Jones, described their relationship as volatile. She suspected the girlfriend might be a spy and warned her son not to travel to Russia, which he did while on leave from his Army duties. Black now faces charges of assault and theft, and his next hearing is set for early July, with the possibility of remaining in Russian detention for an extended period.
Army spokeswoman Cynthia Smith stated that Black did not request official clearance to travel to Russia and did not receive authorization to do so. Despite deploying to Iraq and Afghanistan during his military service, there is no evidence that Black intended to stay in Russia beyond his leave period. The State Department strongly advises against U.S. citizens traveling to Russia and recommends those already there to leave. Several other Americans are also currently detained in Russia, including English instructor William Nycum, corporate security executive Paul Whelan, Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, musician Travis Leake, teacher Marc Fogel, and dual nationals Alsu Kurmasheva and Ksenia Khavana.
Nycum was sentenced to 10 days in jail after breaking into a Moscow children’s library, as captured on CCTV footage. Whelan was convicted of espionage, Gershkovich was arrested on espionage charges, and the U.S. government has been working to negotiate their release. Leake was arrested on drug-related charges, Fogel was sentenced to 14 years in prison on drug charges, and Kurmasheva and Khavana remain detained in Russia. With multiple Americans facing legal troubles in the country, concerns about their safety and the diplomatic efforts to secure their release continue.
The case of Gordon Black is just one example of Americans getting detained in Russia, prompting the U.S. government to caution citizens against traveling to the country. Black’s mother believes he was set up by his Russian girlfriend, leading to charges of assault and theft. Despite his military service and previous deployments, Black did not have official clearance to travel to Russia, where he now faces an uncertain future in a pre-trial detention facility. Along with Black, several other Americans are currently detained in Russia on a variety of charges, with ongoing efforts to secure their release through diplomatic channels.
The detention of Americans in Russia has raised concerns about the safety of U.S. citizens in the country and the need for caution when traveling there. Cases such as that of Gordon Black, William Nycum, Paul Whelan, Evan Gershkovich, Travis Leake, Marc Fogel, and others highlight the risks involved in legal issues abroad. The State Department advises against travel to Russia and urges those already there to leave, emphasizing the importance of following official procedures and regulations. With ongoing diplomatic efforts to secure the release of detained Americans, the focus remains on ensuring their safety and well-being while navigating complex legal situations in a foreign country.
The situation involving Gordon Black and other Americans detained in Russia underscores the challenges and dangers of legal entanglements in foreign countries. Black’s mother believes he was unfairly targeted by his girlfriend, leading to his current detention and pending legal proceedings. As efforts continue to negotiate the release of detained Americans, the State Department’s warning against travel to Russia serves as a reminder of the potential risks involved. With ongoing diplomatic efforts and international pressure, the hope is to resolve these cases and ensure the safety of all U.S. citizens caught up in legal troubles abroad, including those facing uncertain futures in Russian detention facilities.
