A trial began in Russia on Monday against an American soldier who was arrested in Vladivostok in May. The man, who fled from South Korea to Russia, is accused of theft and dangerous threats and has already pleaded guilty to some of the charges.
As Russia’s Interfax news agency reported on Monday, he told the court in Vladivostok that he was “partly guilty of theft” but had not committed it deliberately. He denied the accusation that he had threatened to kill his girlfriend.
The Russian legal system accuses Gordon Black of ‘beating’ his Russian girlfriend Alexandra Waschchuk and stealing 10,000 rubles (about 105 euros) from her. Waschtschuk had stated that Black had threatened to strangle her during an argument in their shared apartment. Black, on the other hand, stated in his testimony Monday that Waschtschuk was heavily drunk during the argument and hit him. He leaned over her and grabbed her neck to calm her, the suspect said. He stole the 10,000 rubles to pay for a hotel stay.
There is a risk of five years in prison
If convicted, the 34-year-old, who traveled to Russia to see his girlfriend, faces up to five years in prison. Several other American citizens are currently imprisoned in Russia, including journalist Evan Gershkovich and former soldier Paul Whelan. Both are accused of espionage.
Source: Krone
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