The U.S. Army soldier presently being held in police custody in Russia appealed his two-month pretrial detention, in response to state media.
Employees Sgt. Gordon Black, 34, was detained by Russian authorities within the port metropolis of Vladivostok on Might 2 on suspicion he stole cash from his Russian girlfriend. Black, an infantryman, was stationed in South Korea and was en path to a brand new project at Fort Cavazos, Texas, when he made an unauthorized detour to Russia.
RIA Novosti, a Russian state-owned information company, reported Monday that Black’s protection staff has filed an enchantment of the soldier’s pretrial detention. Based on the article, which cites a spokeswoman for the courtroom, objections to the movement might be filed till Might 20.
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The Army didn’t reply to a request for touch upon whether or not it has assisted Black with authorized counsel. It is unclear whether or not he has an legal professional in Russia.
Black is married to an American girl and goes by a divorce, Texas courtroom information present. In the meantime, he had been with the Russian girl, Alexandra Vashchuk, for at the least a yr, in response to social media posts made by her and Black.
The pair had a seemingly odd, and violent, relationship. Megan Black, the soldier’s spouse, instructed Reuters that, throughout a video name with Gordon Black, he and his Russian girlfriend obtained right into a battle that ended with the girlfriend hitting and ultimately stabbing him. Black’s mom, Melody Jones, additionally instructed Reuters that the 2 always fought.
Vashchuk posted quite a few movies on social media of Black, generally referring to him as her husband — although there is no proof the 2 are married.
In a single posted video, Vashchuk requested Black questions on Russia’s relationship with the U.S. He mentioned former President Donald Trump was a greater chief, that NATO is “aggressive,” and prompt that Russia’s warpath in Ukraine is justified — monitoring intently with widespread Kremlin speaking factors.
Vashchuk has since partially sanitized her social media accounts of Black: In a single picture of her at a restaurant, she edited him out of the photograph.
Protection Division officers have declined to supply any additional details about Black and as a substitute directed reporters to the State Division, which has mentioned it’s offering consular assist.
Navy.com reached out to the State Division for particulars concerning the assist being supplied to Black however didn’t obtain a response in time for publication.
Black’s case bears some key similarities to that of Pvt. Travis King, an Army soldier who darted throughout the Korean Demilitarized Zone and was held by North Korea for simply over two months final yr.
Apart from being stationed on the similar Army camp in South Korea, each troopers additionally disobeyed orders in touring to North Korea and China then Russia, respectively.
Whereas army officers have declined to forecast Black’s destiny, King has remained within the Army after being launched from North Korea, and his authorized proceedings proceed to play out.
Final month, the Army confirmed that King was nonetheless within the service and assigned to the first Armored Division. Jonathan Franks, a spokesman for King and his household, instructed Navy.com that the younger soldier was being held in pretrial confinement in New Mexico, about 45 minutes from Fort Bliss, Texas.
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