US Army has stopped paying the salary and allowances of an American soldier who was sentenced last month to nearly four years in a Russian penal colony and may face prosecution if he returns to the United States, Reuters reported, citing BTA, citing of American officials.
Gordon Black, a 34-year-old senior sergeant, was found guilty in Russia on charges of theft and making threats to kill. Before that, however, he also violated a number of US military rules by traveling to Russia without permission and flying through China to get there.
Black also had an extramarital affair, which is prohibited in the US armed forces. The extramarital affair was with Russian Alexandra Vashchuk, whom he met while stationed in South Korea. Black followed her to the city of Vladivostok in the Russian Far East, where she reported him to the police after an argument.
Bleck's mother, Melody Jones, said he followed his girlfriend to Russia even though they "fight like cats and dogs". During the trial in Russia, he admitted to stealing 10,000 rubles ($116) from Vashchuk's purse, but denied threatening to kill her.
A senior US defense official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, compared the case to that of US Army Private Travis King, who fled to North Korea last year and was arrested there. After his release, King was charged with various crimes, including desertion.
"When Black returns to the U.S., there will likely be consequences, just as Private King is facing consequences for his unacceptable behavior," the official said.
In May, the military quietly decided to stop paying Black's salary and housing allowances, Reuters said, citing US military officials. However, the Army has maintained health status and the ability to provide housing for family members of Black, who has a wife and daughter in Texas.
Franklin Rosenblatt, an associate professor at Mississippi College of Law and a former military judge, suggested that the US military might still not press charges against Black if he served his entire three-year, nine-month sentence in a Russian penal colony.