A US soldier was arrested in Russia last week. He traveled to the Russian Far Eastern city of Vladivostok and met a woman he allegedly had an affair with. Four U.S. officials said the soldier was stationed in South Korea and traveled to Russia without permission, according to NBC News.
Officials said he was supposed to leave work and return to the United States, but he went to Vladivostok to visit a woman he was in a relationship with. They added that he traveled there without the permission of his superiors and is currently in a detention camp.
Officials said the soldier was accused of “stealing from a woman”. It was not immediately clear if she was the same woman he left.
US Army spokeswoman Cynthia O. Smith said the U.S. soldier was arrested Thursday.
Smith said the soldier was detained in Vladivostok “on charges of criminal misconduct.”
The Russian Federation has notified the US State Department of criminal detention under the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations. The military has notified the family and the US State Department is providing appropriate consular support to the soldier in Russia. Due to the sensitivity of this matter, no further details can be provided at this time,” Smith said.
The soldier is one of a long line of Americans detained in Russia, including many civilians.
With relations between the two countries at historic lows, arrests of Americans in Russia have become frequent.
The United States has accused Russia of negotiating with Americans.
Prominent U.S. citizens detained include Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Hershkowitz, who was jailed last March, and ex-soldier Paul Whelan, who was arrested in 2018. The U.S. government said both Hershkowitz and Whelan were being held illegally.
Publisher: R.K
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