Russian court says US soldier charged with theft causing ‘significant’ damage

MOSCOW: US soldier Gordon Black, who has been detained the Russian city of Vladivostok until July 2, has been charged with theft causing significant damage, a Russian court said.

The detention of Black, who the Pentagon said traveled to Russia without authorization, presents yet another diplomatic headache for the United States, which has warned US citizens against all travel to Russia.

He was detained in early May in Vladivostok, in Russia’s Far East.

The Pervomaisky District Court of Vladivostok said in a statement that it had decided on the preventive measure to detain Black until July 2 for “secretly stealing the property of citizen T., causing the latter significant damage.”

“When choosing the preventive measure in the form of detention, the court came to the conclusion that US citizen B. (Black) — under the weight of the charges — could hide from the preliminary investigation authorities and the court to avoid responsibility,” the court said in the statement.

Earlier, the court’s press service identified the soldier as Gordon Black.

On Tuesday, the Russian interior ministry in Vladivostok announced a 32-year-old woman’s complaint against the 34-year-old suspect.

As the US soldier theft case unfolds, diplomatic efforts are underway to address the situation. High-level discussions between Russian and US officials aim to mitigate tensions and find a resolution. However, the outcome of the legal proceedings remains uncertain, with potential repercussions for bilateral relations.

Regardless of the verdict, the case serves as a reminder of the complexities inherent in international diplomacy and military cooperation.
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