A Russian appellate court has reduced the prison sentence of U.S. Army Staff Sergeant Gordon Black, who was convicted of theft and making criminal threats, according to a report by Russia’s state-run news agency, RIA Novosti. The ruling adds a new chapter to a series of high-profile detentions involving Americans in Russia, amid deteriorating U.S.-Russia relations.
Black, 34, had traveled to Vladivostok, a major Pacific port city in Russia’s far east, in May 2024 to visit his girlfriend, Alexandra Vashchuk. Shortly after arriving, he was accused of stealing money from her and threatening her life, resulting in his arrest by Russian authorities. The court later found him guilty and initially sentenced him to three years and nine months in prison, along with a fine of 10,000 rubles (roughly $115 at the time).
Following an unsuccessful appeal in a regional court, Black’s legal team submitted a new appeal to the 9th Court of Cassation. On Monday, that court partially granted the appeal by reducing his sentence to three years and two months. The judge, however, upheld parts of the original conviction, declining to fully acquit him of issuing threats, but agreed to lessen the punishment for theft.
Black’s case joins a growing list of U.S. citizens detained or imprisoned in Russia in recent years, many of whom Washington has labeled as wrongfully detained. These include:
– Paul Whelan, a former U.S. Marine and corporate security executive.
– Evan Gershkovich, a Wall Street Journal reporter.
– Marc Fogel, an American teacher.
While some Americans have been freed through prisoner swaps, others remain behind bars. Among them:
– Robert Gilman, 72, who is serving a 3.5-year sentence for assaulting a Russian police officer.
– Travis Leake, a U.S. musician sentenced to 13 years in July 2024 for drug-related charges.
Black had been on leave from his post at Camp Humphreys in South Korea, where he was stationed with the Eighth Army. He was in the process of returning to Fort Cavazos in Texas when, according to U.S. Army officials, he diverted his travel for “personal reasons” and flew to Vladivostok through China, bypassing official clearance channels.
The Pentagon mandates that all service members obtain travel authorization for any international travel. Military authorities confirmed that Black neither requested nor received permission to visit Russia. Given the ongoing war in Ukraine and deteriorating U.S.-Russia military relations, it is highly unlikely such a request would have been approved.
According to Black’s girlfriend, Vashchuk, the incident that led to his arrest stemmed from a domestic dispute. She claimed Black became violent, attacked her, and stole money from her wallet. “He was aggressive, unable to control himself,” she told reporters last year. U.S. officials also confirmed that the two had met while Vashchuk was living in South Korea.
It remains unclear whether her departure from South Korea following their alleged altercation was voluntary or if local authorities were involved in facilitating her exit.
This latest sentencing decision comes at a time when the Kremlin has been accused of using detained Americans as political leverage. Black’s case, while not officially designated as wrongful detention by U.S. authorities, adds to a growing sense of urgency in Washington over the safety of American citizens traveling or living in Russia.
As the Trump administration continues to negotiate for the release of Americans imprisoned abroad, cases like Black’s underline the complex interplay of personal conduct, military oversight, and geopolitical friction.
