A U.S. Army soldier, Staff Sgt. Gordon Black, was detained in Vladivostok, Russia, last Thursday on charges of criminal misconduct. Russian authorities claim that Black stole something, though it is believed to be a trumped-up charge in order to arrest an American. The Russian Federation notified the U.S. Department of State of the situation, and the Army provided support to Black’s family. Black joins a growing list of Americans being held in Russian jails, including corporate security executive Paul Whelan and Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, who have been designated as wrongfully detained by the U.S. government.
Other Americans being held in Russian jails include Travis Leake, a musician arrested on drug-related charges, Marc Fogel, a teacher sentenced to 14 years for drug-related charges, and dual nationals Alsu Kurmasheva and Ksenia Khavana. U.S. Army private Travis King, who bolted to North Korea last year, faces charges of desertion, possessing child pornography, making false statements, and disobeying superior officers. King also attempted to escape from U.S. military custody in October 2022 and was accused of soliciting child pornography and possession of it.
King, a Private 2nd Class in the U.S. Army, entered North Korea on foot on July 18 after leaving a South Korean detention facility following a physical altercation with locals. He reportedly did not want to return to America and cited racial discrimination within the U.S. Army as a reason for his actions. After confessing to crossing into North Korea, King was eventually returned to U.S. custody in September. The Army has charged him with broad misconduct prior to his escape to North Korea, including leaving his base after curfew and drinking alcohol in violation of Army regulations.
The U.S. government has been trying to negotiate the release of American citizens wrongfully detained in Russian jails, including Paul Whelan and Evan Gershkovich. The U.S. government has designated these individuals as wrongfully detained and has been working towards securing their release. In addition to those mentioned, other Americans currently detained in Russian jails include Travis Leake, Marc Fogel, and dual nationals Alsu Kurmasheva and Ksenia Khavana. The situation with detained Americans in Russia continues to be a concern for U.S. officials, as negotiations for their release continue.
The U.S. Army has provided support to the family of Staff Sgt. Gordon Black, who was detained in Vladivostok, Russia, on charges of criminal misconduct. Black made a detour on his way back home from South Korea, where he was stationed, leading to his arrest in Russia. The U.S. Department of State was notified of his situation, and the Army is working with Russian authorities to address the matter. The Army is unable to provide further details due to the sensitivity of the situation, but continues to support Black and his family during this time.
In addition to Staff Sgt. Gordon Black, several other Americans are currently being held in Russian jails on various charges. These individuals include Paul Whelan, Evan Gershkovich, Travis Leake, Marc Fogel, and dual nationals Alsu Kurmasheva and Ksenia Khavana. The U.S. government has been actively involved in negotiating for the release of these individuals, who have been designated as wrongfully detained. The situation with detained Americans in Russia remains a significant concern, and efforts to secure their release continue. Staff Sgt. Gordon Black’s case is part of a larger issue involving Americans detained in Russia, highlighting the complexities and challenges of international relations and legal proceedings.
