On Wednesday, it was reported that the US soldier Gordon Black, who was arrested in Vladivostok, Russia on suspicion of theft and threatening his girlfriend, has been sentenced to three years and nine months in a Russian penal colony. The public prosecutor had initially demanded a prison sentence of four years and eight months for the soldier, who had recently pleaded partially guilty to the charges. However, he denied threatening his girlfriend with death, claiming she was heavily intoxicated during the argument and that he had only grabbed her neck to calm her down. He also admitted to stealing money from her so he could stay in a hotel for the night.
Despite being convicted of these crimes, Black’s defense attorney plans to appeal the verdict as they maintain his innocence on some charges. The case has garnered attention in both the US and Russia, with conflicting reports about what truly happened between Black and his girlfriend. Despite this conviction, Black continues to maintain his innocence regarding the more serious charges against him. As such, he will now await the outcome of his appeal while serving his sentence in the penal colony.