NOS News•today, 02:50
An American soldier has been arrested in the eastern Russian city of Vladivostok. He was there visiting a friend when he was arrested by police. Russian authorities accuse him of stealing from her, U.S. officials say.
34-year-old Gordon Black was stationed in South Korea. He should have been on his way home to Fort Cavazos, Texas. He instead traveled to Russia last week to see a girlfriend with whom he was allegedly having an affair.
According to officials, the Russian woman lived in South Korea until recently. They reportedly had an argument last fall, after which she left the country. It is unclear whether she did this of her own accord or whether the Korean authorities were involved, writes the AP news agency.
Trip not reported
Black had not reported his stopover in Vladivostok to his unit and had therefore not been given permission to go to Russia. It is unclear whether U.S. military personnel are generally banned from traveling to Russia, although the State Department advises U.S. citizens against traveling to the country.
A spokesperson for the US military confirmed Black’s arrest and said the State Department was providing consular assistance to the man. The diplomatic relationship between the United States and Russia is already bad and will only become more difficult due to this new arrest of an American, according to AP.
More Americans stuck
In addition, musician Travis Leake is in custody, who was arrested last year on drug-related charges. Teacher Marc Fogel has been sentenced to sixteen years in prison on similar charges. Also in custody are Alsu Kurmasheva and Ksenia Chavana, both of whom have dual nationality.
