A US Army soldier stationed in North Korea was detained in Russia earlier this month on suspicion of stealing from a woman he was in a relationship with, according to the Russian foreign ministry. While the ministry said that the charges did not pertain to “politics or espionage,” the US Army said it was investigating if the soldier was lured there by the Russian intelligence services.
The detained soldier has been identified as Staff Sergeant Gordon Black, who was enlisted in the US Army as an infantryman in 2008. He was posted to Iraq in 2009 and Afghanistan in 2013. Most recently, he was assigned to the Eighth Army, US Forces Korea at Camp Humphreys in South Korea.
On April 10, he signed out of the Eighth Army on a permanent change of station to return to Fort Cavazos in Texas, according to the Pentagon. However, instead of going back to the US, he went to China from Korea and then to Vladivostok, a port city in Russia.
Four US officials told NBC News that Black went to Russia to meet a woman, who he was romantically involved with.
What happened?
Black was detained at a hotel in Vladivostok after a 32-year-old woman, who has remained unnamed, filed a complaint with the police regarding theft following an argument, according to the Russian interior ministry.
Black had been in a relationship with the woman after he met her in South Korea. After she returned to Vladivostok, Black kept in touch with her online de ella. When the US soldier came to Vladivostok, he had an argument with the woman, according to the ministry.
“After he left, the girl discovered money was missing and turned to the police for help,” the ministry said, Reuters reported. “Police officers found the suspect in one of the city hotels. “I have purchased airline tickets and intended to fly home.”
The Reuters report told a Russian newspaper quoted an unidentified source as claiming that he had beaten the woman and stolen 200,000 Russian rubles ($2,200).
Currently, Black is in pre-trial detention until July 2.
Did the soldier break any rules?
Black broke the rules as his travel to both China and Russia was unauthorized, according to the Pentagon.
“The Army has opened an administrative investigation to determine the facts and the circumstances surrounding his travel,” the Pentagon said. “Official or any leave to Russia is strictly prohibited.”
The US State Department advises against all travel to Russia, which ranks as a maximum danger alongside countries such as Afghanistan, Syria, Iran, and Sudan, Reuters report said.
“Do not travel to Russia,” the State Department says, citing the war in Ukraine and “the potential for harassment and the singling out of US citizens for detention by Russian government security officials.”
Which other Americans are currently detained in Russia?
At least two other Americans are currently in detention in Russia. One is Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, who has been detained since March 2023 on espionage charges. The other is former US Marine Paul Whelan, who has been accused of spying and sentenced to 16 years in prison in 2020.
(With input from Reuters)
