Putin Gets New Bargaining Chip Against US

Gordon Black, a U.S. serviceman who was detained last month during an unauthorized visit to Vladivostok, Russia, has been sentenced to three years and nine months in jail, Russia's state-run media reported on Wednesday.

Staff Sergeant Black, 34, was arrested on May 2 after he flew to the port city of Vladivostok in Russia's Far East to visit a 31-year-old woman with whom he was romantically involved. The Pervomaisky District Court in Vladivostok sentenced Black on charges of stealing and threats of murder against the woman.

Black said he was "partially" guilty of stealing 10,000 rubles (about $119) from the woman but had pleaded not guilty to the murder threat charges. Black was also ordered to return the money. He will appeal the verdict, his defense lawyer said.

His sentencing could hand Russian President Vladimir Putin a bargaining chip against the United States for future prisoner swaps. A number of U.S. citizens are detained in Russia, including journalist Evan Gershkovich and former Marine and computer security official Paul Whelan.

"Punishment of three years and nine months of imprisonment to be served in a general regime correctional colony. The term of punishment is calculated from the moment the sentence enters into legal force," the Vladivostok court said, according to Russia's state-run news agency Tass.

Newsweek has contacted the White House and Russia's Foreign Ministry for comment by email.

A State Department spokesperson told Newsweek on May 7 that "a U.S. citizen has been detained in Russia."

The spokesperson added: "Due to privacy and other considerations, we have no further details to provide at this time."

Black had been stationed in South Korea at Camp Humphreys with the Eighth Army and was supposed to return home to Fort Cavazos in Texas when he traveled to Vladivostok to see his girlfriend, family members told The Washington Post.

NBC News said that Black made the trip to Russia without receiving approval from his superiors.

Cynthia Smith, an Army spokesperson, told The Associated Press that Black signed out for his return home; "instead of returning to the continental United States, Black flew from Incheon, Republic of Korea, through China to Vladivostok, Russia, for personal reasons."

The State Department warns all Americans against traveling to Russia due to the ongoing war in Ukraine, and says that those that do "exercise increased caution due to the risk of wrongful detentions."

"Do not travel to Russia due to the unpredictable consequences of the unprovoked full-scale invasion of Ukraine by Russian military forces, the potential for harassment and the singling out of U.S. citizens for detention by Russian government security officials, the arbitrary enforcement of local law, limited flights into and out of Russia, the Embassy's limited ability to assist U.S. citizens in Russia, and the possibility of terrorism," a U.S. travel warning says.

"U.S. citizens residing or traveling in Russia should depart immediately," the warning adds.

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