US soldier jailed in Russia critical of Biden, NATO
Gordon Black, the American soldier arrested in Russia, said U.S. relations with Moscow were “definitely better” under Donald Trump and was critical of President Joe Biden in TikTok videos posted by his Russian girlfriend.
The videos, pulled from the account of Aleksandra Vashchuk by Radio Free Europe, show her and Black, a U.S. Army staff sergeant together in South Korea, where he was stationed with the U.S. Eighth Army.
Black was arrested and charged with theft May 2 in the Pacific port city of Vladivostok where, Russia’s interior ministry said, he had gone to see a woman with whom he’d had a relationship in South Korea. He will be held until at least July 2. Russia didn’t identify the romantic interest he met there.
A U.S. Army spokesperson said Black had traveled to Russia, via China, without authorization.
The 34-year-old veteran of Iraq and Afghanistan was “set up,” his mother, Melody Jones, told ABC News. “I’m hoping he’s not being tortured or hurt.”
The TikTok videos, copied by Radio Free Europe before Vashchuk’s public account went private, show the 32year-old Vladivostok native hanging out with Black at a nightclub, at a kitchen table, and inside an apartment. The videos date from 2022 and 2023.
In one nearly three-minute clip, Vashchuk asks Black what he thinks of the U.S.-Russia relationship, and narrates his replies in Russian.
“The relationship isn’t good now,” Black says. “It was definitely better under Trump. But then again there wasn’t a situation in Ukraine.”
“America … I think the, NATO is, is pretty aggressive,” Black tells the camera. “I understand Russia’s position. Obviously they want to defend their country.”
Vaschuk then interjects: “Trump is better.”
“Biden, he just doesn’t handle situations the way he should,” Black continues. “And I think that’s why things are the way they are now.”
Another clip shows Black in uniform, wearing a patch of the Eighth Army’s Wightman NCO Academy, as Vaschuk narrates in Russian. Another video shows Vaschuk not far from Camp Humphreys, a U.S. Army installation around 35 miles south of Seoul.
Black landed in Vladivostok on April 10, when the Army had expected him to return to a base in Texas following the conclusion of his tour in South Korea. They had an argument of some sort at her home, Russia’s interior ministry said.
“After he left, the girl discovered money was missing and turned to the police for help,” the interior ministry said. “Police officers found the suspect in one of the city hotels. He had purchased airline tickets and intended to fly home.”
Army spokesperson Cynthia Smith said Tuesday there was no indication Black meant to stay in Russia beyond his allotted leave time. The Army said it was investigating Black’s unauthorized travel to Russia.
The U.S. government lists two Americans in Russia as wrongfully detained: Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, who is charged with espionage, and former Marine Paul Whelan, who was convicted of spying.