A U.S. soldier detained in the Russian city of Vladivostok on charges of theft and threats to kill his girlfriend has been found guilty on Wednesday and sentenced to three years and nine months in a Russian penal colony.
ROLL VTR: Gordon Black, a thirty four year-old U.S staff sergeant who was detained on May 2nd in Vladivostok in Russia’s far East, pleaded not guilty on Monday to charges of threatening to kill his girlfriend but admitted he was partially guilty of stealing from her.
Black’s defense lawyer will appeal the verdict, which reported the judge handing down the sentence of imprisonment of three years and nine months for both charges.
Russia is holding at least a dozen American citizens in jail, including Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, who will go on trial behind closed door on charges of espionage next week.
Gershkovich has denied the charges of collecting secrets for the CIA.