Vladivostok
Thief or Kremlin pawn? US soldier arrested in Russia
US citizens repeatedly become Moscow’s political pawns. Does this also apply to the soldier arrested in Vladivostok?
© Elizabeth Fraser / Picture Alliance
Another US soldier was arrested in Russia.Any American who ends up in prison in Russia is usually treated as a bargaining chip: Will Moscow and Washington agree on an exchange?
The arrest of a US soldier in the Russian port city According to Russian authorities, Vladivostok on the Pacific was arrested because of suspected theft. The state news agency Tass reported this on Tuesday, citing the judicial press office of the city in the Far East. 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. This means that the Foreign Ministry representation in Vladivostok will no longer care about the arrested US citizen.
US soldier arrested in Russia was stationed in South Korea
According to US media reports, the soldier was stationed in South Korea and traveled to Russia on his own to visit a woman there. There was initially no direct confirmation from the White House. 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.
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. She was informed of the arrest by the US State Department last Thursday and has had no contact with her son since then.
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US citizens as Kremlin bargaining chips
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.