US soldier detained in Russia travelled through China without clearance, US Army says
- US Army Staff Sergeant Gordon Black is being detained in Vladivostok on suspicion of theft
- Soldier followed his girlfriend to Russia while he was on personal leave from military service
Before his arrest in Russia, US soldier Gordon Black not only broke US Army rules by travelling to the Russian city of Vladivostok without authorisation, but he did so after passing through China, the Pentagon said.
Details about Black started to emerge on Tuesday of risk-taking behaviour that saw the 34-year-old US Army staff sergeant’s luck run out after he followed his girlfriend to Russia while he was on personal leave from military service.
Russia has charged him on suspicion of theft. His mother says she thinks he was set up by his Russian girlfriend.
The case presents yet another diplomatic headache for the United States, which has warned US citizens against travel to Russia and has been wrestling with other high-profile detentions there.
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