US soldier arrested in Russia over suspected theft remains in custody, state media reports

A U.S. soldier arrested on theft charges in the eastern Russian city of Vladivostok has lost an appeal against his detention and will remain in custody, Russian state news agency RIA Novosti reported on Friday, citing court officials.

The soldier, identified by court officials as Gordon Black, will remain in custody until at least July 2, the report said, after the Primorsky Regional Court upheld the lower court’s decision to remand Black in custody pending the investigation and trial.

Several U.S. officials said earlier this month that Black, a 34-year-old staff sergeant, was stationed in South Korea and was about to return to Fort Cavazos in Texas. Instead, officials said Black, who is married, had traveled to Russia to visit a longtime girlfriend. He was arrested in Vladivostok, a major military and commercial Pacific port in Russia’s Far East, and accused of stealing from her.

RIA Novosti reported, citing local police, that Black admitted his guilt and was cooperating with investigators.

Black’s arrest further complicates relations between the United States and Russia, which have become increasingly strained due to the ongoing war in Ukraine.

Russia is known to hold a number of Americans in prisons, including security executive Paul Whelan and Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich. The U.S. government has classified both as wrongfully imprisoned and is attempting to negotiate their release.

Others arrested include Travis Leake, a musician who has lived in Russia for years and was arrested last year on drug charges; Marc Fogel, a teacher from Moscow who was also sentenced to 14 years in prison for drug charges; and dual nationals Alsu Kurmasheva and Ksenia Khavana.