Report: US Army Sergeant Arrested in Russia
The US Army said Monday that Staff Sgt. Gordon Black was detained in the Russian port city of Vladivostok last week on charges of criminal misconduct....
Facts
- The US Army said Monday that Staff Sgt. Gordon Black was detained in the Russian port city of Vladivostok last week on charges of criminal misconduct.1
- Black had finished his deployment in South Korea and reportedly traveled to Russia to visit his girlfriend before heading back home to Fort Cavazos, Texas.2
- Moscow has notified the US State Department of Black's May 2 apprehension in line with the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations. He is accused of stealing from a woman.3
- According to a State Department official, the US Embassy in Moscow hasn't yet gained consular access to Black, who is being held in pretrial confinement through July 1.4
- Black reportedly traveled to Russia on his own without permission from his superiors. Before his arrest, he said he was interrogated by authorities at the airport for 'nine hours.'4
- In a travel advisory released last September, the State Department warned US citizens to avoid visiting Russia due to its invasion of Ukraine and to 'exercise increased caution due to the risk of wrongful detentions.'5
Sources: 1NBC, 2BBC News, 3Reuters, 4ABC News and 5Travel.
Narratives
- Narrative A, as provided by CNN. Despite Washington's strong warnings about the danger posed to US citizens inside the Russian Federation, Black left South Korea of his own volition. His criminal detention isn't related to espionage or strained US-Russia relations. He has been arrested for committing theft and causing significant psychological damage to a Russian citizen. He must face the consequences of his willful actions.
- Narrative B, as provided by New York Times. Russia has a history of wrongfully detaining prominent US citizens — including Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich — and use them as bargaining chips. Black's arrest will likely aggravate the contentious relationship between Moscow and Washington, which is why the Biden administration must take significant measures to stop the Kremlin from holding any more American citizens hostage.
