American Soldier Allegedly Held in Russia Amid Puzzling Circumstances
A U.S. Army soldier has been arrested while traveling through Russia.
Cynthia Smith, U.S. Army spokeswoman, informed NTD News that the soldier was detained on Thursday, May 2, in Vladivostok, a southeastern Russian port city.
The purpose of the soldier’s travel to Russia is still uncertain.
According to Ms. Smith, Russian authorities notified the U.S. State Department about the arrest following the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations. The information was then relayed through the Army to the soldier’s family.
Neither Ms. Smith nor the U.S. Department of Defense disclosed the soldier’s identity when queried by NTD News.
“The U.S. Department of State is providing necessary consular assistance to the Soldier in Russia,” said Ms. Smith. “Due to the sensitivity of the situation, we are unable to provide further details at this time.”
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As of Tuesday, it remains unclear if the soldier is categorized as absent without leave (AWOL), a status that may lead to desertion charges.
During a White House press briefing on Monday, National Security Council spokesman John Kirby acknowledged the Biden administration’s awareness of the U.S. soldier’s detention in Russia but provided minimal details.
“I am unable to disclose much about this case at this time,” Mr. Kirby stated to journalists. “We are cognizant of this case, but it is better addressed to our Department of Defense colleagues.”
NTD News also contacted the State Department for a response but did not receive one prior to publication.
Other US Citizens Detained in Russia
This U.S. soldier seems to be the most recent American citizen ensnared in the Russian legal system.
Previously, retired U.S. Marine Paul Whelan was arrested in Moscow in December 2018 on espionage charges and is currently incarcerated in Russia. Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, detained by Russian authorities in March last year on spying accusations, is awaiting trial. Both men have been designated by the U.S. government as incorrect detentions of American citizens.
Additional U.S. citizens detained in Russia include Travis Leake, a long-term resident musician arrested last year on drug-related charges; Marc Fogel, a Moscow teacher sentenced to 14 years in prison on drug charges; and dual citizen Ksenia Khavana.
The process of securing the release of detained U.S. citizens in Russia is complicated due to the strained relations between the two nations.
The arrest of the U.S. soldier in Vladivostok happened less than a year after another U.S. soldier, Pvt. Travis King, 23, was detained for crossing from South Korea into North Korea. Pvt. King crossed intentionally into North Korea via the demilitarized zone (DMZ) after serving two months in a South Korean prison for assault.
After being expelled to China by North Korean authorities in September, Pvt. King was transferred to U.S. custody by Chinese authorities. By October, the U.S. military had charged Pvt. King with desertion.
The Associated Press contributed to this article.
