An American soldier was arrested in Russia and charged with theft, according to two U.S. officials.
U.S. officials said the soldier, Staff Sergeant Gordon Black, 34, had been stationed in South Korea and was in the process of returning home to Fort Cavazos in Texas. Instead, officials said he traveled to Russia.
The officials spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss personnel details.
Cynthia Smith, an Army spokeswoman, confirmed that a soldier was detained Thursday in Vladivostok, a major military and commercial Pacific port, on charges of criminal conduct. She said Russia had notified the U.S. and the military had notified the soldier’s family.
“The U.S. State Department is providing appropriate consular support to the soldier in Russia,” Smith said.
It was unclear Monday whether the soldier was considered absent without leave or absent.
The arrest comes less than a year after US soldier Travis King sprinted into North Korea across the heavily fortified border between the Koreas. North Korea announced later that he would expel King, who was returned to the United States. He was eventually charged with desertion.
Russia is known to hold a number of Americans in its prisons, including the head of corporate security Paul Whelan and a Wall Street Journal reporter Evan GershkovichThe US government has labeled both as wrongfully detained and is trying to negotiate their release.
Others detained include Travis Leake, a musician who has lived in Russia for years and was arrested last year on drug-related charges; Mark Vogel, a teacher in Moscow who was sentenced to 14 years in prison, also on drug charges; and dual citizens Alsou Kurmasheva and Ksenia Khavana.
