American soldier travels to Russia, arrested on suspicion of theft

A US soldier who traveled to Russia of his own accord has been arrested on suspicion of theft and is being held in pre-trial detention, officials in Washington said on May 6.

The staff sergeant was stationed in South Korea. He was arrested in Vladivostok on May 2 “on charges of criminal misconduct,” CNN reported, citing US military spokesperson Cynthia Smith.

Russia is currently detaining a number of American nationals on what are widely believed to be trumped-up charges.

“The Russian Federation has notified the U.S. Department of State of the criminal detention, in accordance with the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations,” Smith said.

“The Army has notified his family and the U.S. Department of State is providing appropriate consular support to the soldier in Russia. Given the sensitivity of this matter, we cannot provide additional details at this time.”

One of the most high-profile American citizens held by Russia is Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reporter Evan Gershkovich, who has been in prison for nearly a year awaiting indictment in Russia.

Gershkovich was arrested in Yekaterinburg in late March 2023 while working on a story about the recruitment methods of the Wagner mercenary group, as well as Russian citizens’ views on the large-scale invasion of Ukraine.

Russia accused him of espionage, which both the US government and the WSJ strongly deny.

Espionage in Russia carries a maximum prison sentence of 20 years.

The Russian court extends the pre-trial detention of captured American reporter Gershkovich for the fifth time

Gershkovich was arrested in Yekaterinburg in late March 2023 while working on a story about the recruitment methods of the Wagner mercenary group, as well as Russian citizens’ views on the large-scale invasion of Ukraine.