U.S. Army Soldier Detained in Russia Faces Pretrial Hearing

Staff Sgt. Gordon Black, a U.S. Army soldier detained in Vladivostok, Russia, is currently held in a pretrial detention facility until his next hearing. The Pentagon provided an update on Black's situation, highlighting his unlawful travel to Russia and the strict prohibition against travel there.

Pentagon officials confirmed Tuesday that U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Gordon Black, detained in Vladivostok, Russia, last week, is currently held in a pretrial detention facility and will remain there until his next hearing. The date of the hearing is not yet known.

Pentagon Deputy Press Secrearty Sabrina Singh stated that Black, an infantryman, enlisted in the Army in 2008 and was assigned to the Eighth Army U.S. Forces Korea at Camp Humphreys in South Korea. On April 10, he signed out for permanent change of station to return to Texas.

However, instead of returning to the U.S., Black traveled through China to Vladivostok, Russia, "for personal reasons," according to Singh. She emphasized that travel to Russia is strictly prohibited under the Department of Defense (DoD) foreign clearance guide, which aligns with State Department guidelines.

The Army has initiated an administrative investigation to determine the circumstances surrounding Black's travel. Singh noted that part of the investigation will focus on potential consequences for his actions.

Black's mother, Melody Jones, expressed concerns that her son may have been "set up" by his girlfriend. She revealed that Black met a Russian woman while stationed in South Korea, who was later deported back to Russia.

Jones described Black's relationship with the woman as "volatile" and suspected her of being a spy. She urged her son not to travel to Russia while on leave, but it is unclear what transpired during his visit.

Russian television reports cited by "Good Morning America" (GMA) indicate that Black faces charges involving assaulting a woman and stealing money.

Black previously deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan. Army spokeswoman Cynthia Smith confirmed that he did not request official clearance or receive authorization to visit these countries.

The State Department advises U.S. citizens against traveling to Russia and urges those already there to leave.

Several other Americans remain detained in Russia, including William Nycum, Paul Whelan, Evan Gershkovich, Travis Leake, Marc Fogel, Alsu Kurmasheva, and Ksenia Khavana. The U.S. government has designated Whelan and Gershkovich as wrongfully detained and is negotiating their release.

The DoD continues to monitor the situation and provide updates as they become available.