An American soldier was recently arrested in Russia and is being held on theft charges, according to a U.S. official. The soldier, identified as a staff sergeant stationed in South Korea, was arrested on May 2 by Russian authorities in Vladivostok. The arrest came to light when two U.S. officials confirmed the incident. The soldier is currently in pre-trial detention, and the U.S. Department of State has been notified of the criminal detention, in line with the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations.
The soldier, who had traveled to Russia of his own volition, is now being held by Russian authorities. U.S. Army officials confirmed the arrest and stated that the soldier was detained on charges of criminal misconduct. The Army has notified the soldier’s family and is offering support through appropriate consular channels. The U.S. Embassy in Moscow is currently seeking consular access to the detained soldier.
FIRST ON NBC: A U.S. soldier was detained in Russia over the weekend according to three U.S. officials. He has been stationed in Korea and traveled to Russia on his own. He is accused of stealing but it’s not clear if those charges are legit or not. Developing …
— Courtney Kube (@ckubeNBC) May 6, 2024
This incident adds to a list of Americans being held in Russia, including Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich and former Marine Paul Whelan, who have been declared as wrongfully detained by the U.S. Department of State.
The arrest of this soldier comes at a time of heightened tensions between the United States and Russia, following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022. The U.S. has previously issued a level four “do not travel” advisory for Russia, citing the risk of harassment and arbitrary detention of U.S. citizens.