A U.S. soldier, who was stationed in South Korea, has been arrested and detained in Russia.
U.S. Army spokesperson, Cynthia Smith, said in a statement on Monday that the soldier was detained on charges of criminal misconduct in the Russian Far Eastern city of Vladivostok.
The spokesperson said the Russian Federation notified the U.S. Department of State of the soldier’s detention in accordance with the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations.
Smith said that the Army notified his family and the U.S. Department of State is providing appropriate consular support to the soldier in Russia but the spokesperson refused to provide additional details citing the sensitivity of the matter.
White House National Security Communications Advisor John Kirby said that he is aware of the case.
According to the Associated Press, the man has been identified as Staff Sergeant Gordon Black, aged 34, who was supposed to be on his way home to Fort Cavazos, Texas but traveled to Russia instead. The man reportedly traveled to the country alone from South Korea.