U.S. Army Sergeant Detained in Russia Accused of Theft, Adding to American Detention Concerns

On May 2, in Vladivostock, Russia, Staff Sgt. Gordon D. Black, a U.S. Army sergeant stationed in Korea, was arrested. He was in the process of changing duty stations from Korea back to Fort Cavazos (Ft. Hood) in the U.S. His presence in Russia was not on official travel, and his arrival there remains unclear.

Previous Cases 

This recent incident adds to the U.S.'s concerns about the detention of its citizens in Russia. Paul Whelan, a former Marine, has been imprisoned in Russia since 2018 on espionage charges, which have been deemed as sham by the U.S. and his family. He was sentenced to 16 years in prison in 2020. In addition, Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich was jailed in March 2023 on espionage charges, while the U.S., his family, and his employer insist the accusations are baseless.

U.S. Response and Travel Advisory

The U.S. government has long been trying to secure the release of its citizens detained in Russia. However, the State Department announced in December that Russia rejected a "significant" proposal for their release. Furthermore, the U.S. has issued warnings to its citizens, advising against travel to Russia and urging those living there to depart immediately. An updated travel advisory in September stated that Americans traveling to the country could be singled out "for detention by Russian government security officials" and that the U.S. Embassy had "limited ability to assist U.S. citizens in Russia."

Statement from State Department

A State Department spokesperson confirmed on Monday that a U.S. citizen had been detained in Russia. The spokesperson reiterated the U.S.'s strong warnings about the danger posed to U.S. citizens inside the Russian Federation and urged U.S. citizens in Russia or traveling to the country to leave immediately.

NBC News was the first to report the detention of the U.S. Army sergeant in Russia over the weekend. The National Security Council spokesman, John Kirby, informed the press that the U.S. is "aware of this case and other matters related to Russia," but mentioned that he couldn't "say much about it right now." Camilla Schick and Arden Farhi contributed to the report.

The detention of Staff Sgt. Gordon D. Black in Russia adds to the ongoing concerns about the safety and freedom of U.S. citizens in the country. The U.S. government continues to work towards the release of its citizens detained in Russia, while also issuing strong warnings and travel advisories to its citizens regarding the risks associated with being in Russia.