Washington officials announced on May 6 that a U.S. soldier who traveled to Russia of his own accord has been arrested on suspicion of theft and is being held in pretrial detention.
This sergeant major was stationed in South Korea. He was detained in Vladivostok on May 2 on “suspects of criminal activity,” CNN reported, citing U.S. military spokeswoman Cynthia Smith.
Russia currently holds numerous Americans on trumped-up charges.
“The Russian Federation has notified the U.S. State Department of criminal detention pursuant to the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations,” Smith said.
“The Army has notified his family and the U.S. State Department is providing appropriate consular assistance to the soldier in Russia. Given the sensitivity of this matter, we are unable to provide additional details at this time.” ”
Among the most high-profile Americans held in Russia is Evan Gershko, a Wall Street Journal reporter who has been imprisoned in Russia for almost a year awaiting indictment. There's Mr. Bitch.
Gershkovych was arrested in Yekaterinburg in late March 2023 while writing an article about how the Wagner Mercenaries were recruited and the Russian public's views on a full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Russia has accused him of espionage, which both the US government and the Journal strongly deny.
Espionage in Russia is punishable by up to 20 years in prison.
Russian court extends pre-trial detention of imprisoned American journalist Gershkovic for fifth time
Gershkovych was arrested in Yekaterinburg in late March 2023 while writing an article about how the Wagner Mercenaries were recruited and the Russian public's views on a full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
