An American soldier, Staff Sgt. Gordon Black, was arrested in Russia on charges of stealing from his girlfriend in Vladivostok. Black, who was stationed in South Korea and was supposed to return home to Fort Cavazos in Texas, instead traveled to Russia to visit his girlfriend. The arrest complicates U.S. relations with Russia, which have been tense due to the war in Ukraine. The soldier did not inform his unit about his trip to Russia and did not receive authorization to go there. It is unclear if U.S. service members are prohibited from traveling to Russia, but the State Department strongly advises against it.
The Russian woman involved in the incident had previously lived in South Korea and had a domestic dispute with Black last fall. It is unclear if she was forced to leave South Korea, and the role of Korean authorities in the matter is also unknown. Black, an infantry soldier, was essentially on leave when he left Korea to redeploy back home to Fort Cavazos. The U.S. Department of State is providing consular support to Black in Russia, and the Army has notified his family about the situation.
This incident comes less than a year after another American soldier, Travis King, sprinted into North Korea and was later returned to the U.S. Russia currently holds several Americans in its jails, including corporate security executive Paul Whelan and Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich. The U.S. government has designated them as wrongfully detained and is trying to negotiate for their release. Other Americans detained in Russia include musician Travis Leake, teacher Marc Fogel, and dual nationals Alsu Kurmasheva and Ksenia Khavana. Black’s arrest in Russia was first reported by NBC News.
The soldier’s arrest adds to the list of Americans detained in Russia on various charges. The situation further strains U.S.-Russia relations amid ongoing tensions over the war in Ukraine. The soldier, who did not have authorization to travel to Russia, is currently in custody in Vladivostok. The U.S. Department of State is providing consular support to him, and the Army has informed his family about his detention. The incident highlights the complexities of international relations and the challenges faced by American service members stationed abroad.
The State Department strongly advises against U.S. citizens traveling to Russia due to the risks involved. The soldier’s arrest underscores the importance of following protocol and obtaining authorization before traveling to foreign countries. The U.S. government is actively engaged in negotiations to secure the release of Americans wrongfully detained in Russia, including corporate executives, journalists, musicians, teachers, and dual nationals. The soldier’s situation serves as a reminder of the potential consequences of disregarding rules and regulations while serving overseas. The incident also sheds light on the broader geopolitical tensions between the U.S. and Russia, which continue to impact individuals on both sides.
