U.S. soldier Gordon Black sentenced in Russia to almost 4 years on charges of theft and threats of murder

Moscow – A court in the far eastern Russian city of Vladivostok on Wednesday sentenced an American soldier arrested earlier this year to three years and nine months in prison on charges of robbery and threats to murder, according to Russian reports.

Staff Sgt. Gordon Black, 34, flew to Vladivostok, a Pacific port city, to see his girlfriend and was arrested after she accused him of stealing from her, according to American and Russian authorities.

Russian state news agencies Tass and RIA Novosti reported from the courtroom of the Pervomaisky District Court in Vladivostok that the judge also ordered Black to pay 10,000 rubles ($115) in damages. Prosecutors asked that Black be sentenced to four years and eight months in prison.

He was in a glass cage in the courtroom during the sentencing.

Black’s sentence further complicates U.S. relations with Russia, which have become increasingly tense as the fighting in Ukraine continued.

Russia holds several Americans in prisons, including corporate security executives Paulo Whelan and reporter for the Wall Street Journal Evan Gershkovich. The US government has designated both men as unjustly detained and has attempted to negotiate their release.

Other detainees include Travis Leake, a musician who had lived in Russia for years and was arrested last year on drug-related charges; Marc Fogel, a teacher in Moscow who was sentenced to 14 years in prison, also on drug charges; and Alsosu Kurmasheva and Ksenia Khavana, with dual nationality.

The US State Department strongly advises US citizens not to go to Russia.

According to Pentagon policy, military personnel must obtain authorization from a security manager or commander for any international travel.

Black’s travels

The U.S. Army said last month that Black had not requested authorization for international travel and that it was not authorized by the Defense Department. Given the hostilities in Ukraine and the threats to the US and its military, it is extremely unlikely that approval would have been granted.

Black was on leave and returning to his base at Fort Cavazos, Texas, from South Korea, where he was stationed at Camp Humphreys with the Eighth Army.

Cynthia Smith, an Army spokeswoman, said Black signed the request for his move back home and “instead of returning to the continental United States, Black flew from Incheon, Republic of Korea, through China to Vladivostok , in Russia, for personal reasons”.

Black’s girlfriend, Alexandra Vashchuk, told reporters earlier this month that “it was a simple domestic dispute” during which Black “became aggressive and attacked her.” “He then stole money from my wallet and I didn’t give him permission to do that,” Vashchuk said.

she was not in court on Wednesday, Reuters news agency reported.

American authorities said Black, who is married, met his girlfriend in South Korea.

According to U.S. officials, the Russian woman lived in South Korea, and last fall she and Black got into some type of domestic dispute or altercation. Afterwards, she left South Korea. It is unclear whether she was forced to leave or what role, if any, South Korean authorities played in the matter.

Reuters says Black has a wife and son in Texas. His wife, Megan, told Reuters last month that he and Vashchuk had a turbulent relationship.

Black’s mother, Melody Jones, told Reuters that he followed Vashchuk to Russia even though they “fought like cats and dogs.”