Sgt. Gordon Black was detained in Russia. (Photo Credit: Representational/ UnSplash)
Sgt. Gordon Black, a 34-year-old US soldier from Texas, has been detained in Russia on theft charges, as reported by AP citing two US officials. Black, who was stationed in South Korea and en route to Fort Cavazos in Texas, diverted his travel to Russia where he was arrested. NBC News reported that Black traveled to Russia without permission from his superiors and is now held in pretrial confinement.
Black’s mother, Melody Jones, told CBS News that he was in Russia visiting his girlfriend and pleaded, “Please do not torture or hurt him.”
U.S. Army spokesperson Cynthia O. Smith confirmed the soldier’s detention on Thursday in Vladivostok. He faces charges of criminal misconduct. Russia has informed both the US and the soldier’s family.
“The Russian Federation notified the U.S. Department of State of the criminal detention in accordance with the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations. The Army notified his family and the U.S. Department of State is providing appropriate consular support to the Soldier in Russia. Given the sensitivity of this matter, we are unable to provide additional details at this time,” Smith said.
National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said US is “aware of this case and other matters related to Russia. He added that he cannot “say much about it right now.”
Rep. Michael McCaul, R-Texas, chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee, expressed deep concern over the soldier’s detention.
“Putin has a long history of holding American citizens hostage. A warning to all Americans—as the State Department has said, it is not safe to travel to Russia,” McCaul said in a post shared on X.