Russian Journalist Kevorkova Sent To Pretrial Detention On Terrorism Charge [Video]

Russian officials said two U.S. nationals were arrested in separate cases, including a serving army member, raising renewed questions over whether Moscow is targeting Americans to detain and later use as bargaining chips in prisoner swaps.

The Pervomaisky district court in Russia’s Far East city of Vladivostok ordered the arrest of U.S. Staff Sergeant Gordon Black and sent him to pretrial detention until at least July 2, court spokeswoman Yelena Oleneva said on May 7.

U.S. authorities confirmed that Black had been arrested in Russia and had been accused of stealing from a woman after traveling from South Korea — where he was stationed — without informing his superiors. The Pentagon said the soldier traveled to Vladivostok through China without official clearance.

Russian authorities separately disclosed on May 7 that another American, identified by court officials as William Russell Nycum, had been detained 10 days ago in an unrelated case and …