Russia Will Keep U.S. Soldier in Custody for Months, Local Media Reports

Europe|Russia Will Keep U.S. Soldier successful Custody for Months, Local Media Reports

An American worker detained successful Russia past week volition stay successful jailhouse until astatine slightest July portion the authorities analyse theft charges against him, the Russian quality media reported connected Tuesday, citing section tribunal officials.

The worker was detained successful the larboard metropolis of Vladivostok successful the eastbound of Russia connected Thursday, a spokeswoman for the section tribunal told the Russian concern paper Kommersant. His detention came to airy connected Monday, erstwhile the U.S. State and Defense Departments said that helium was being held.

An American subject authoritative identified him arsenic Staff Sgt. Gordon Black, 34, an Army sergeant successful the process of returning location to Texas aft being stationed successful South Korea.

A tribunal successful Vladivostok said successful a quality merchandise connected Tuesday that an American national identified lone by the missive B had been detained connected suspicion of robbing a woman, causing her “considerable harm.”

Officials successful Moscow person not commented connected the arrest, and the property bureau for Vladivostok’s courts did not instantly respond to requests for remark connected Tuesday.

Mr. Blake’s detention came to airy arsenic Vladimir V. Putin was preparing to beryllium sworn successful for his 5th word arsenic Russia’s president connected Tuesday, amid a bellicose standoff with the West.

Mr. Black is the latest American to beryllium detained successful Russia successful caller years connected what U.S. officials accidental are often trumped-up charges. The detentions person gnawed astatine the already frayed narration betwixt Russia and the United States, which person clashed astir notably implicit Russia’s penetration of Ukraine and besides implicit a big of different matters, including what Washington says is Moscow’s propulsion to put a atomic limb successful space.

It was unclear wherefore Mr. Black was successful Vladivostok, a militarized larboard adjacent the office of Russia’s Pacific Fleet that was closed to outsiders for decades nether the Soviet Union. It was besides unclear however Mr. Blake had obtained a visa to question to Russia.

A State Department authoritative connected Monday reiterated the United States government’s informing for Americans not to question to Russia.

NBC News reported connected Monday that Mr. Black had traveled to Vladivostok from South Korea to sojourn a pistillate with whom helium was romantically involved. He had not informed his superiors astir the trip, the outlet reported.

Ekaterina Bodyagina and Oleg Matsnev contributed reporting.