A US soldier has been arrested in Russia for suspected theft. The man had traveled privately from South Korea to Vladivostok. The Russian authorities speak of a case of “ordinary crime”.
A US soldier has been arrested in Russia. The 34-year-old was stationed in South Korea and was on his way home to Fort Cavazos in the state of Texas. However, according to the USA, the soldier then decided to travel to Russia and did not inform the military about it.
According to Russian authorities, the soldier was arrested in the Russian port city of Vladivostok for suspected theft. This was reported by the state news agency Tass, citing the city’s judicial press office. The Russian Foreign Ministry representative in Vladivostok also spoke of a case of ordinary crime. “The case has nothing to do with politics or espionage,” said a spokesman, according to Tass.
Soldier traveled to Russia because of a woman
According to US media reports, the soldier traveled to Russia on his own to visit a woman there. According to a report in the Washington Post newspaper, the arrested man’s mother confirmed that he had traveled to Russia for a woman. He was questioned by Russian authorities about two weeks ago when he crossed the border, but was then allowed to enter. The mother said she was informed of the arrest by the US State Department last Thursday and has had no contact with her son since then, according to the newspaper.
There has been no direct confirmation from the White House so far. When asked, US National Security Council Communications Director John Kirby only said: “We are aware of this case.” However, he gave no further details and referred further questions to the US Department of Defense.
More Americans in Russian custody
According to the Russian state news agency RIA Novosti, another American was arrested in Moscow. Accordingly, an English teacher in Moscow was arrested because he broke into a children’s library while drunk and then fell asleep there. The teacher was reportedly in Russia on a six-month tourist visa. He was sentenced to ten days in prison.
The detention of US citizens in Russia in most cases involves complicated negotiations between Moscow and Washington regarding release or exchange. In 2022, US basketball player Brittney Griner was convicted of drug possession in Russia and exchanged for Russian arms dealer Viktor But, who was imprisoned in the US. Former US soldier Paul Whelan has been in custody in Russia since the end of 2018 for alleged espionage. Efforts by the US authorities to secure his release have so far been unsuccessful.