US soldier charged in Russia after ‘visiting girlfriend told her he supported Trump’
A US soldier has been charged with causing ‘significant damage’ after visiting a woman he was romantic with in Russia and allegedly told he supports ex-President Donald Trump.
Staff Sgt Gordon Black, 34, who was arrested last week, was charged with ‘secretly stealing the property of a citizen T., causing the latter significant damage’, reported the state-run news agency Ria Novosti, citing the Pervomaisky District Court of Vladivostok.
‘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,’ stated the court on Wednesday.
Black faces pre-trial detention at least through July 2.
The American soldier had finished his deployment in South Korea and was supposed to head home to Fort Cavazos, Texas, but traveled to Russia on his own instead.
Russia confirmed the charges against Black as a TikTok account emerged of a woman, Aleksa Vashchuk, who shared videos of herself appearing to be with Black in South Korea last year and in 2022. Vashchuk identified Black as her ‘husband’.
One of the videos, discovered by Radio Free Europe, showed Vashchuk asking Black to speak about US-Russia relations. Black allegedly said relations were ‘definitely better under Trump’ and that President Joe Biden ‘doesn’t handle situations the way you should’.
Black also allegedly called NATO ‘pretty aggressive’ and said, ‘I understand Russia’s position. Obviously, they want to defend their country.’
Black went to Russia to visit his girlfriend, his mother, Melody Jones, told CBS News.
It is not clear if the citizen the Russian court was referring to in charging Black is Vashchuk.
A 32-year-old woman filed a complaint against Black, according to the Russian interior ministry.
Several unnamed US officials told the Associated Press that Black was charged with stealing from his longtime girlfriend, whom he was in a relationship with while in South Korea.
Black’s detention is not linked to politics, said Russia’s Foreign Ministry, according to the state news agency TASS.
The soldier did not have clearance to visit Russia, US Army spokesperson Cynthia Smith said on Tuesday.
Black did not have permission to visit Russia, and the US government has been warning Americans against going there amid citizen arrests.
Deputy Pentagon Press Secretary Sabrina Singh said the Army is ‘looking into’ if Black was targeted by Russian intelligence.
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