American soldier Gordon Black sentenced in Russia to nearly 4 years in prison for theft and threats of murder

Moscow — A court in Vladivostok, far-eastern Russia, on Wednesday sentenced a U.S. soldier arrested earlier this year to three years and nine months in prison for robbery and threats of murder, Russian media reported.

Staff Sgt. Gordon Black, 34, traveled to Vladivostok, a Pacific port city, to see his girlfriend and was arrested after she accused him of stealing from her, according to U.S. and Russian officials.

Russian state news agencies Tass and RIA Novosti reported from the courtroom of Vladivostok's Pervomaisky District Court that the judge also ordered Black to pay 10,000 rubles ($115) in damages. Prosecutors had asked that Black be sentenced to four years and eight months in prison.

He was in a glass cage in the courtroom during the sentencing.

US Army soldier Gordon Black outside the court in the Russian city of Vladivostok, in the far east of Russia, June 6, 2024. PAVEL KOROLYOV / AFP via Getty Images

Black's conviction further complicates relations between the United States and Russia, which have become increasingly strained as fighting in Ukraine continues.

Russia holds a number of Americans in its prisons, including corporate security executive Paul Whelan and Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich. The U.S. government designated both men as wrongfully detained and attempted to negotiate their release.

Other detainees include Travis Leake, a musician who had lived in Russia for years and was arrested last year on drug charges; Marc Fogel, a Moscow teacher sentenced to 14 years in prison, also for drug trafficking; and double nationals Alsou Kurmasheva and Ksenia Khavana.

The US Department of State strongly advises US citizens against traveling to Russia.

According to Pentagon policy, military personnel must obtain authorization from a security official or commander for all international travel.

Black's Travels

The U.S. military said last month that Black had not requested permission to travel abroad and that it was not authorized by the Department of Defense. Given the hostilities in Ukraine and the threats to the United States and its military, it is extremely unlikely that he would have obtained this approval.

Black was on leave and about to return to his home base at Fort Cavazos, Texas, from South Korea, where he was stationed at Camp Humphreys with the Eighth Army.

Cynthia Smith, an Army spokeswoman, said Black was committed to returning home and “instead of returning to the continental United States, Black flew from Incheon, Republic of Korea, via China to Vladivostok, Russia, for personal reasons.”

Black's girlfriend, Alexandra Vashchuk, told reporters earlier this month “it was a simple domestic dispute” during which Black “became aggressive and attacked her.” “He then stole money from my wallet and I did not give him permission to do it,” Vashchuk said.

she was not in court on Wednesday, the Reuters news agency reported.

U.S. officials said Black, who is married, met his girlfriend in South Korea.

According to U.S. officials, the Russian woman had lived in South Korea, and last fall she and Black had some sort of domestic argument or altercation. After that, she left South Korea. It is not clear whether she was forced to leave or what role, if any, South Korean authorities played in the matter.

Reuters says Black has a wife and child in Texas. His wife, Megan, told Reuters last month that he and Vashchuk had a rocky relationship.

Black's mother, Melody Jones, told Reuters that he followed Vashchuk to Russia even though they were “fighting like cats and dogs.”

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