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US soldier arrested in Far Eastern Russian city US soldier arrested in Far Eastern Russian city
(about 2 hours later)
A married American serviceman was detained for allegedly beating his girlfriend in Vladivostok A married American serviceman has been detained for allegedly beating a woman in Vladivostok
A US Army sergeant Gordon Black was detained in Russia’s Far Eastern port city of Vladivostok on suspicion of beating and robbing a Russian woman he was romantically involved with, according to the Izvestia newspaper. A US Army sergeant has been detained in the Far Eastern Russian city of Vladivostok on suspicion of beating and robbing a Russian woman he was romantically involved with, according to the Izvestia newspaper.
An American soldier was being held by Russian authorities “on charges of criminal misconduct” since last Thursday, NBC News reported on Monday. “The Russian Federation notified the US Department of State of the criminal detention in accordance with the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations,” US Army spokesperson Cynthia Smith said in a statement, adding that he was receiving consular support from the US Department of State. The man, named by US officials as Staff Sergeant Gordon Black, 34, has been held by Russian authorities “on charges of criminal misconduct” since last Thursday, NBC News reported on Monday.
US officials identified the man as Staff Sergeant Gordon Black, 34, who was stationed in South Korea and was on leave at the time of the incident. According to the Associated Press, he was supposed to redeploy back home to Fort Cavazos in Texas. However, along the way, he took a detour through Russia, without notifying his superiors. “The Russian Federation notified the US Department of State of the criminal detention in accordance with the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations,” US Army spokesperson Cynthia Smith said in a statement, adding that Black was receiving consular support from the State Department.
Black, a married man, allegedly met a Russian woman who had lived in South Korea at some point while he was serving in the country. According to AP’s sources, they had a domestic dispute roughly half a year ago, after which she left for Vladivostok. Black had reportedly been stationed in South Korea and was on leave at the time of the incident. According to the Associated Press, he was due to redeploy home to Fort Cavazos in Texas. However, he reportedly took a detour through Russia without notifying his superiors.
The couple originally met each other through the internet, and Black followed the woman to Vladivostok on his own initiative, according to Russian newspaper Izvestia. Black, a married man, is said to have become involved with the alleged victim while they were both in South Korea. According to AP’s sources, they had a domestic dispute roughly half a year ago, after which the woman left for Vladivostok. Black followed her to the Russian city on his own initiative, according to Izvestia.
“He stayed with her for a while. At some point he began beating and strangling her. In the end he stole 200,000 rubles ($2,200) and some alcohol” before he left, the paper wrote on Monday, quoting an anonymous source. “He stayed with her for a while. At some point he began beating and strangling her. In the end he stole 200,000 rubles ($2,200) and some alcohol” before he left, the Russian newspaper wrote on Monday, quoting an anonymous source.
“It’s a domestic violence case, law enforcement are dealing with it,” Russian news agency RIA Novosti wrote on Tuesday, quoting a separate source. “It’s a domestic violence case, law enforcement are dealing with it,” RIA Novosti reported on Tuesday, quoting a separate source.
Both Russian and the US authorities have warned their respective citizens against traveling to each other’s countries. Russia’s Foreign Ministry told Russians to exercise “extreme caution” when planning trips outside the country, as the US has extradition treaties with over 100 countries. Despite the rising tensions, the two countries exchanged high-profile prisoners in 2022, when Russian businessman Viktor Bout was swapped for US basketball player Brittney Griner. Both Russian and US authorities have warned their citizens against traveling to each other’s countries. The Foreign Ministry in Moscow has told Russians to exercise “extreme caution” when planning trips outside the country, noting that the US has extradition treaties with over 100 nations. Despite rising tensions, the two countries exchanged high-profile prisoners in 2022, when Russian businessman Viktor Bout was swapped for US basketball player Brittney Griner.