A U.S. soldier detained in Russia reportedly traveled to Vladivostok through China without military clearance, according to the U.S. Army.
The soldier, identified as Staff Sergeant Gordon Black, was arrested on theft charges by a court in Vladivostok. Black, who enlisted in 2008 and was most recently stationed in South Korea, was supposed to return to Fort Cavazos in Texas but instead flew to Vladivostok for personal reasons.
The Army stated that there was no evidence he intended to stay in Russia after his personal leave.
The Russian Interior Ministry informed the U.S. embassy that Black had been arrested for theft of personal property and is currently in a pre-trial detention facility.
The Russian Foreign Ministry stated that the case had no political element or allegations of espionage. Additionally, a U.S. citizen named William Russell Nycum was remanded in custody for 10 days for "petty hooliganism."