WASHINGTON — The U.S. Army soldier arrested in Russia last week was being held in a pretrial detention facility, the Army said Tuesday. Russian reports said he would be held for two months pending an investigation.
Staff Sgt. Gordon Black flew 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. officials and Russian police.
The Army confirmed Tuesday that he had not sought clearance for the international travel and it was not authorized by the Defense Department. Under Pentagon policy, service members must get clearance for any international travel from a security manager or commander and that was not done.
The State Department strongly advises U.S. citizens not to go to Russia, and given the war in Ukraine and threats to the U.S. and its military, it is extremely unlikely he would have been granted approval.
