Posted on 05/06/2024 1:19:27 PM PDT by Red Badger
The soldier, who was stationed in Korea and traveled to Russia on his own, is accused of stealing from a woman.
A U.S. soldier was detained in Russia last week, a U.S. Army spokesperson said in a statement.
He had been stationed in South Korea and traveled to Russia on his own and not on official business, according to four U.S. officials.
The soldier is accused of stealing from a woman, the officials said.
The soldier was detained on May. 2, U.S. Army spokesperson Cynthia O. Smith, said in a statement.
In a statement, Smith said that the soldier was apprehended in Vladivostok, Russia "on charges of criminal misconduct."
"The Russian Federation notified the U.S. Department of State of the criminal detention in accordance with the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations," Smith said. "The Army notified his family and the U.S. Department of State is providing appropriate consular support to the Soldier in Russia. Given the sensitivity of this matter, we are unable to provide additional details at this time.."
Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee Rep. Michael McCaul, R-Texas, said he is "deeply concerned" by reports that a soldier was detained in Russia.
"Putin has a long history of holding American citizens hostage," McCaul said in a post shared on X. "A warning to all Americans—as the State Department has said, it is not safe to travel to Russia."
The soldier, who officials did not name, is one of a number of Americans detained in Russia, including several civilians.
Arrests of Americans in Russia have increased as the relationship between the two countries has sunk to Cold War lows, The Associated Press reported. The U.S. has accused Russia of targeting Americans and using them as bargaining chips, according to the AP.
Among the most prominent U.S. citizens to be detained are Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, who was jailed last March, and former Marine Paul Whelan, who was arrested in 2018. The U.S. government has said that both Gershkovich and Whelan are wrongfully detained.
WNBA star Brittney Griner spent 10 months in Russian penal colonies for drug-related charges but was released in a rare prisoner exchange for Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout in 2022.
This is a developing story.
Why would anybody go to Russia right now? 😖
FAFO
If the rightful person was in the White House, odds are that he would be back at his duty station. Given the state of things in the last year, what was this genius thinking?
We will put out the efforts to free him.
Your tax dollars at work.
The soldier had better be Black and gay or Biden ain’t gonna lift a finger.
I’ve been to Russia once. Sochi, when I was on a regional trip to Georgia. Lots of Indians, and in fact, that’s who “sponsored” my visa (Hoteliers can be sponsors.) Can’t say I’d want to go back. However I would like to go to Lake Baikal as my old Lake Tahoe Firehouse hosted Russian ‘scientists’ on an exchange program.
It is insanity to visit ANY country that is in an active war.
Vladivostok is crappy city to visit. If a US military representative was there, as appears to be the case, then it was ON ASSIGNMENT.
Next time perhaps our woke soldiers should, to quote Nancy Reagan, JUST SAY NO, when ordered into a hostile country.
Why would anybody go to Russia..............EVER?....................
That’s what I was thinking.
If not, he’s toast...................
I think it depends on which errr… demographics he falls under.
If he does fit the “DEI profile,” Biden will probably exchange some violent Russian criminal or two for him.
Because Dumb assery?
Wrong skin color, gender, and he can’t dribble a basketball so he is of no use to the Administration.
“... what was this genius thinking?”
Before a former soldier where I worked turned me in for “politically incorrect thought,” (no kidding) I spoke with everyone I could who had recently separated from the military. I wanted their perspectives on whatever they wanted to talk about. A couple of them were as liberal as any indoctrinated college student who believes in global warming, chem trails, etc. The black guy who turned me in for “politically incorrect thought” sounded like the type who would visit Iran or North Korea because they just know our government is lying about them. It can be painful and life altering to be stupid.
As for the accusation, the HR manager “snuck” into my cube at work and warned me to never talk* to that young man again. He could ignore the charge this time, but if it happened again, I’d be either written up and/or fired. To say I was stunned that such a thing could happen at General Dynamics understates my feelings. (It was pretty common that if any black person lodged a complaint against a white person who wasn’t a manager, that white guy was fired. White privilege card not accepted here.)
* I was always on the lookout to get recognition for line employees who had done something special. I’d gotten a few cash awards given to them over the years. That came to a screeching halt. I never spoke to anyone I didn’t already know again.
Note to self... Never travel to a country we’re waging a war against.
If someone goes there they should avoid anything suspicious appearing and certainly should not steal.
True story:
Friend from Michigan State University’s Russian language major program was a friend of a guy who was part of the exchange program visits in the mid 1970s for Russian majors to go to the Soviet Union.
Incredibly while there he took a black felt tip marker and drew a funny moustache on a portrait of Lenin on a street in Moscow. His giggling was over when the cops grabbed him and arrested him.
The University recognized he was in serious trouble. The rest of the group was allowed to return to the US but he was held. After some high level kowtowing and apologies the guy was released to go home.
People take for granted some freedoms that are okay in Animal House movies but not in real life.
“As for the accusation, the HR manager “snuck” into my cube at work and warned me to never talk* to that young man again.”
After a couple of similar experiences during my time in the corporate world, I warned my kids to NEVER get too ‘comfortable’ with someone who “looks like America” (meaning anyone other than white males) as they can have you on the street the next day, if they decide to. That simple.
I’ve also heard that the handful of straight white teachers that aren’t banging their high school kiddies are also in the same fear, as many actually do get THREATENED from future coeds, telling them that they may just team up an put an end to the guy’s career. Pretty much INSANE now for a normal white guy to EVER consider that profession.
is it that easy to get a visa to visit Russia, a country with which we are in a virtual war???
Depends what color he is.
A hostage.One of ours for 125 of theirs.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.