US soldier detained in Russia accused of robbery

May 6, 2024 Vaseline stjohnson 0

Top line

A U.S. soldier was detained in Russia over the weekend after being accused of robbing a woman, according to multiple reports, which cited three unnamed U.S. officials.

Key facts

The detained soldier was stationed in Korea and traveled to Russia on his own, NBC reported, noting that he was not on official business.

Russia is holding the soldier in pretrial detention, CNN reported, citing two US officials and noting that the US embassy in Moscow is seeking consular access to the soldier.

The soldier has been accused of robbing a woman, although the legitimacy of his charges is unclear. according to NBC.

Russia notified the U.S. State Department of the soldier’s detention and the Army notified his family, according to U.S. Army spokeswoman Cynthia O. Smith.

The Pentagon referred Forbes’ request for comment to the Army, which did not immediately respond to an inquiry.

This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.

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Key background

The anonymous soldier is one of multiple Americans detained in Russia in recent years. In 2020, former US Marine Paul Whelan was convicted of spying for the United States and sentenced in Moscow City Court to 16 years in a maximum security prison. Whelan called his trial a “sham” and said he was innocent, claiming he was set up by receiving a flash drive containing confidential information he didn’t know about. Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich has been detained in Russia on espionage charges since last March and faces up to 20 years in prison. Gershkovich lived in Moscow for six years and reported extensively on Russia’s war against Ukraine. The US government has maintained that both Whelan and Gershkovich have been detained by mistake. WNBA star Brittney Griner spent 10 months in prison in Russia on drug possession and smuggling charges and returned to the United States through a high-profile prisoner swap for a Russian arms dealer.

Other readings

US soldier detained in Russia, officials say (NBC News)

An American soldier was arrested in Russia last week, officials say (CNN)

Evan Gershkovich: Updates on WSJ Reporter Detained in Russia (WSJ)