An American soldier was detained on Thursday, May 2, in Vladivostok, Russia, on suspicion of committing a crime, US Army spokeswoman Cynthia Smith said in a statement. NBC television reported that the military man was to be accused of “robbing a woman.” Other media report that he was “in the process of returning” to the United States after completing his mission in South Korea, but instead of returning to the United States, he went to Russia.
As US Army spokeswoman Cynthia Smith said in a statement released to the media, Russia notified the US Department of State about the detention of a US Army soldier on charges of committing a crime. The arrest was to take place on May 2 in Vladivostok. However, the soldier's identity and details of the case were not disclosed. The White House confirmed this information but declined to comment.
Media: It's about theft
According to NBC News, the detainee is a US Army staff sergeant (junior warrant officer) who was stationed in South Korea and was to be accused of “robbing a woman.” The Associated Press reports that he was “in the process of returning” to the US after completing his mission in Korea, but instead of returning to America, he went to Russia.
According to NBC, the non-commissioned officer was to be charged with “robbing a woman.”
In similar circumstances, in 2022, US Army Private Travis King fled to North Korea to escape potential charges in the US. However, nothing is known about the motivation of the non-commissioned officer detained in Vladivostok.
The soldier is one of a number of Americans in detention and prisons in Russia, along with, among others, journalists Evan Gershkovich and Alsu Kurmasheva, former Marine Paul Whelan, as well as those imprisoned on drug trafficking charges – teacher Mark Fogel and musician Travis Leake. Ksenia Havana, a 32-year-old dual citizen of the United States and Russia, is also in custody for paying money to a foundation helping Ukraine.
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