A Russian court has sentenced U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Gordon Black to nearly four years in prison for stealing approximately $100 from a woman he was romantically involved with and for making death threats against her. The sentence, issued on Wednesday, follows Black’s arrest last month in Vladivostok, a Pacific port city.
Sergeant Black, 34, was apprehended after a complaint by the unnamed woman, who reported that Black had stolen money from her and threatened her life during a domestic dispute. Black had traveled to Russia to visit her after completing a military posting in South Korea.
A statement from the Vladivostok court indicated that the theft caused “considerable harm” to the woman. Black’s sentence was reportedly more severe than what a Russian citizen might typically receive for similar charges.
Several Russian criminal lawyers highlighted that such strict sentencing is unusual, particularly given the relatively small amount of money involved. This disparity has raised questions about whether Black’s status as a foreign military member influenced the severity of his punishment.
Sergeant Black enlisted in the U.S. Army in 2008 and served in Iraq in 2009 and Afghanistan in 2013. At the time of his arrest, he was assigned to the Eighth Army, US Forces Korea at Camp Humphreys. He did not inform his military superiors of his trip to Russia, which was intended to be a personal visit before returning to Texas.
In earlier court proceedings, Black denied making death threats but admitted to some counts of theft. His legal representative has announced plans to appeal the decision. If the sentence is upheld, Black is expected to serve his term in a low-security penal colony.
Black’s conviction is the latest in a series of detentions of American citizens in Russia. These incidents have contributed to increasing tensions between the U.S. and Russia, especially amid ongoing geopolitical conflicts and Russia’s actions in Ukraine.
The sentencing of Sergeant Black coincides with the pending trial of Evan Gershkovich, a Wall Street Journal reporter accused of espionage. Gershkovich, who has been held in Russia since March 2023, is facing serious charges that the U.S. government and his employer assert are unfounded. His trial is set to begin next week behind closed doors.
In addition to Gershkovich, other Americans detained in Russia include former Marine Paul Whelan, who received a 16-year sentence in 2020, and Alsu Kurmasheva, a Russian-American editor held since October on charges of spreading misinformation about the Russian army.
These high-profile detentions have strained the already delicate relations between the two countries. The U.S. government continues to work towards the release of its citizens, labeling such detentions as politically motivated and seeking to resolve them through diplomatic channels. The ongoing situation underscores the complexities and challenges of international relations and legal proceedings involving foreign nationals.
As the appeals process unfolds for Sergeant Black and the trials for other Americans continue, the outcomes will likely further influence the diplomatic discourse between the United States and Russia.
