American military officer Gordon Black has been handed a 3-year and 9-month sentence by a court in Vladivostok, Russia, after being found guilty of theft and making death threats against his girlfriend, Alexandra Vashchuk. The prosecution had requested a 4-year and 8-month term in a penal colony, along with a 40,000 ruble fine, but the court settled on a slightly lesser sentence. Black, a 34-year-old US Army sergeant, had traveled to Russia without permission from his superiors, after serving in South Korea. During an argument, he grabbed Vashchuk by the throat in a manner she believed was life-threatening and took 10,000 rubles from her purse. Black’s defense, which plans to appeal the verdict, argued that the incident was a misunderstanding and that Vashchuk was heavily intoxicated at the time. The US Department of State is providing consular assistance to Black, who has been detained until July 2. The case has drawn significant attention, given the complexities often involved in the detention of US citizens in Russia.
Key points
- Gordon Black, an American military officer, has been sentenced to 3 years and 9 months in a Russian penal colony for theft and making death threats.
- Black traveled to Russia from South Korea without permission from his superiors to visit his girlfriend, leading to the charges.
- The prosecution had initially requested a 4-year and 8-month sentence, but the court imposed a slightly lesser term.
- Black’s defense plans to appeal the verdict, contending the incident was a misunderstanding.
- The US Department of State is providing consular support to Black, with his case highlighting the diplomatic complexities of US citizens detained in Russia.
Contradictions👾The amount stolen was reported as 10,000 rubles in most sources, but one source mentions 200,000 rubles.
