Russian court begins trial of US soldier arrested on theft charges
MOSCOW — A court in the Russian city of Vladivostok on Thursday began the trial of an American soldier who was arrested in the city earlier this year on charges of theft.
Staff Sgt. Gordon Black, 34, flew to Vladivostok, a Pacific port city, to see his girlfriend and was arrested after she accused him of stealing from her, U.S. officials and Russian authorities said. If convicted, he faces up to five years in prison.
Russian state news agency RIA Novosti reported on Thursday from the courtroom of the Pervomaisky District Court in Vladivostok that Black has agreed to testify in the trial and will respond to the charges against him later in the proceedings. The report also quoted local police as saying Black is cooperating with authorities.
Black’s arrest further complicates U.S. relations with Russia, which have grown increasingly tense as fighting in Ukraine continues.
Russia does with some Americans in its prisons, including director of corporate security Paul Whelan and Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich. The US government has classified both men as unlawfully detained and has attempted to negotiate their release.
Other detainees include Travis Leak, a musician who had lived in Russia for years and was arrested last year on drug-related charges; Marc Fogel, a teacher in Moscow who was sentenced to 14 years in prison, also for drug abuse; and dual nationalities Alsu Kurmasheva And Ksenia Khavana.
The U.S. Department of State strongly discourages American citizens from going to Russia.
Pentagon policy requires military personnel to obtain clearance from a security manager or commander before any international travel.
The US military said this last month that Black had not requested permission for the international travel and that this had not been approved by the Ministry of Defense. Given the hostilities in Ukraine and the ongoing threats to the US and the military, it is extremely unlikely that he would have received approval.
Black was on leave and returning to his home base at Fort Cavazos, Texas, from South Korea, where he was stationed with the Eighth Army at Camp Humphreys. Cynthia Smith, an Army spokeswoman, said Black had signed up for his move home and that “instead of returning to the continental United States, Black, for personal reasons, moved from Incheon, Republic of Korea, through China to Vladivostok, Russia flew.”
Black’s girlfriend, Alexandra Vashchuk, told reporters after Thursday’s court hearing that “it was a simple domestic dispute” in which Black “became aggressive and attacked her.” permission to do it,” Vashchuk said.
U.S. officials have said the married Black met his girlfriend in South Korea.
According to U.S. officials, the Russian woman had been living in South Korea, and last fall she and Black became involved in some sort of domestic dispute or altercation. Then she left South Korea. It is not clear whether she was forced to leave and what role Korean authorities played in the case.