An American soldier, Staff Sgt. Gordon Black, has been detained in Russia for two months on suspicion of theft. The Pervomaisky District Court of Vladivostok ruled that Black will remain in detention until July 2. The court accused Black of committing secret theft of a citizen's property, causing significant psychological damage.
Black, who was not authorized by the Defense Department to travel to Russia, left his unit in South Korea without official clearance nearly a month ago. He had out-processed from his station at Eighth Army, US Forces Korea on April 10 and was supposed to move back to the US to be stationed at Fort Cavazos, Texas. Instead, he flew from South Korea through China to Vladivostok for personal reasons.
