Overview

• Staff Sgt. Gordon Black's prison sentence in Russia was reduced from three years and nine months to three years and two months by an appellate court.
• Black was convicted in June 2024 of theft and making threats during a domestic dispute with his girlfriend, Alexandra Vashchuk, in Vladivostok.
• The court partially granted Black's appeal, reducing the penalty for theft but upholding the conviction for threats.
• Black's unauthorized travel to Russia while stationed in South Korea violated U.S. military regulations, complicating his legal and professional standing.
• The case underscores strained U.S.-Russia relations and the broader issue of Americans detained in Russia, often under contentious circumstances.