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US soldier detained in Russia on theft charges

Tuesday, 07 May 2024 9:47 AM [ Last Update: Tuesday, 07 May 2024 9:47 AM ]

The US embassy in Moscow, Russia (File photo by AP)

An American soldier, who was arrested in Russia last week on charges of criminal misconduct, is accused of stealing, a report says.

Russia's RIA state news agency on Tuesday cited the press office of a Vladivostok court as saying that Gordon Black will be kept in detention until July 2.

"The Pervomaisky District Court in Vladivostok arrested the American soldier Gordon Black ... under the 'Theft' article (of Russia's criminal code)," RIA quoted the court's spokeswoman as saying.

The report comes as the US army said on Monday it had been informed about the detention, but refrained from officially naming the soldier.

"On May 2, 2024, Russian authorities in Vladivostok, Russia, detained an American soldier on charges of criminal misconduct," Cynthia Smith, a spokeswoman for the Army, said.

Russia notified the US State Department, which is "providing appropriate consular support to the soldier in Russia," and the Army notified his family, Smith added.

According to US officials who spoke on condition of anonymity, the Army sergeant was stationed in South Korea and was in the process of returning home to Fort Cavazos in Texas. Instead, officials said, he traveled to Russia.

At the White House briefing on Monday, National Security Council spokesman John Kirby told reporters the US is "aware of this case and other matters related to Russia".

He, however, said he could not provide more details.

The Russian daily Izvestia, quoting an unnamed source, said the soldier stole 200,000 roubles ($2,196) from a woman in Russia.

This comes amid tensions between Moscow and Washington, which have particularly heightened over the war in Ukraine.

Russia launched the military operation in Ukraine on February 24, 2022. Western countries have responded to the Russian military operation by backing Ukraine with cash and heavy weaponry while imposing unprecedented sanctions on Russian officials and entities.

Moscow has repeatedly warned that the flow of weapons to Kiev will only prolong the conflict.

Since the start of the war in Ukraine, the US, alone, has pledged more than $44 billion in security aid to Ukraine.

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