May 8th 2024.
A member of the US Army, Staff Sgt Gordon Black, has found himself in hot water after being charged by a Russian court. Reports suggest that Black had visited a woman he was romantically involved with in Russia, and during his visit, he expressed his support for former President Donald Trump.
According to state-run news agency Ria Novosti, the Pervomaisky District Court of Vladivostok charged the 34-year-old soldier with causing "significant damage" by "secretly stealing the property" of a citizen, identified as T. The court explained that Black was detained as a preventive measure to ensure he does not evade responsibility for his actions.
Black, who had recently finished his deployment in South Korea, had planned to return home to Fort Cavazos, Texas. However, he took it upon himself to travel to Russia instead. The charges against him were confirmed by Russia, and a TikTok account belonging to a woman named Aleksa Vashchuk emerged. In the videos shared by Vashchuk, she appears to be with Black during his time in South Korea in 2020 and 2021. Vashchuk even refers to Black as her "husband."
One particular video, discovered by Radio Free Europe, shows Vashchuk asking Black to comment on US-Russia relations. In response, Black reportedly stated that relations were "definitely better under Trump" and criticized current President Joe Biden for his handling of situations. He also expressed his belief that NATO is "pretty aggressive" and understood Russia's stance as they aim to defend their country.
Black's mother, Melody Jones, told CBS News that her son was in Russia to visit his girlfriend. However, it is unclear if the woman mentioned by the Russian court is indeed Vashchuk. The Russian interior ministry stated that a 32-year-old woman had filed a complaint against Black.
Unnamed US officials revealed to the Associated Press that Black is being charged with stealing from his long-time girlfriend, whom he was in a relationship with while stationed in South Korea. The US Army spokesperson, Cynthia Smith, confirmed that Black did not have clearance to visit Russia and that the soldier did not have permission from the US government to do so. The government has been warning Americans against traveling to Russia as there have been instances of American citizens being arrested.
In response to these developments, Russia's Foreign Ministry stated that Black's detention is not politically motivated. However, the US Army is looking into whether Black was specifically targeted by Russian intelligence. This incident serves as a reminder of the consequences that may arise from disregarding official protocols and traveling to countries without proper clearance.
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