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 @ISIDEWITHNewsInternational LawDiplomatic TensionsUS-Russia Relationsdetained US soldierforeign detainees•••1yr ago

US Soldier Detained in Russia Sparks International Tension

In a development that could further strain the already tense relations between the United States and Russia, a US soldier has been detained in Vladivostok, Russia, on charges of criminal misconduct. The incident, confirmed by both the US Army and the White House, occurred on May 2, 2024, marking a significant escalation in the series of high-profile detentions involving American citizens in Russia. The soldier, whose identity has not been disclosed, is currently being held by Russian authorities, sparking concerns over the treatment and legal rights of foreign detainees in Russia.

The detention comes at a time when US-Russian relations are at a historic low, primarily due to disagreements over Russia's invasion of Ukraine and other geopolitical tensions. The US government has expressed its concern over the detention and is reportedly seeking consular access to the soldier to ensure their well-being and to understand the charges laid against them. The incident has raised questions about the safety of Americans traveling or stationed in Russia, especially those serving in the military.

Details about the alleged criminal misconduct have not been made public, and it remains unclear what specific actions led to the soldier's detention. The US Army and the National Security Council are closely monitoring the situation, emphasizing the importance of adhering to international laws and norms in handling such cases. The Russian government has yet to release an official statement regarding the detention, leaving many details shrouded in mystery.

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 @ISIDEWITHasked…1yr1Y

How would you feel if someone you knew was detained in a foreign country under unclear charges, and how should their home country respond?

 @ISIDEWITHasked…1yr1Y

If a foreign nation held one of your country's citizens, what actions do you think are justified to secure their release?

 @ISIDEWITHasked…1yr1Y

Do you believe that a soldier's actions in a foreign country reflect their personal choices more than their home country's politics?

 @ISIDEWITHlinked…1yr1Y

US soldier detained in Russia, White House confirms

https://yahoo.com

A U.S. soldier was detained in Russia last week, the Army and National Security Council confirmed Monday. On May 2, “Russian authorities in Vladivostok, Russia, detained an American Soldier on charges of criminal misconduct,” U.S. Army spokesperson ...

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Horror in Northern Gaza: U.S. Questions Israel After Civilians Slaughtered in Residential Attack

An Israeli strike on a residential building in northern Gaza killed dozens of people early Tuesday, the territory’s emergency service said, in the latest attack to cause mass casualties in the area since Israel renewed its offensive against Hamas in the north.The Palestinian Civil Defense, the emergency service, said at least 55 people were killed in the strike in the town of Beit Lahia. Gaza’s health ministry said at least 93 people were dead, including 25 children. The Israeli military said in a statement that it was “aware of reports that civilians were harmed” in the town and was looking into the details.Matt Miller, a U.S. State Department spokesman, called the strike “a horrifying incident with a horrifying result” and said the Biden administration had contacted the Israeli government to ask what happened.Israeli forces renewed their offensive in northern Gaza this month, saying they were trying to stem a regrouping of Hamas, the militant group that attacked Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, sparking the war in Gaza.The strike comes days after another Israeli attack on a residential block in Beit Lahia that left dozens of people killed or wounded, according to the Palestinian Civil Defense. The Israeli military confirmed the strike on Sunday, saying that the air force had “conducted a precise strike” targeting Hamas fighters.An overnight Israeli airstrike hit another residential building in the town on Oct. 20, killing dozens of people, Palestinian officials and emergency workers said.Roughly 400,000 people remain in northern Gaza, according to the United Nations, and many have been trapped in their ruined neighborhoods.

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Death, Denial, and Silence: Inside China’s Push to Bury Zhuhai’s Devastating SUV Attack

Outside the sports center in the southern city of Zhuhai where a 62-year-old man had plowed an S.U.V. into a crowd, killing at least 35 people, workers on Wednesday quickly removed bouquets of flowers left by grieving residents. Uniformed police officers and officials in plainclothes shooed away bystanders and warned them not to take photos. At hospitals where patients were taken after the attack — at least 43 more people were injured — local officials sat outside the intensive care units, blocking journalists from speaking with family members.On the Chinese internet, censors were mobilized to delete videos, news articles and commentaries about the attack. Almost 24 hours had passed before officials divulged details about the assault, which happened on Monday, including the death toll. Their statement offered limited details, and they have held no news conferences.The response was a precise enactment of the Chinese government’s usual playbook after mass tragedies: Prevent any nonofficial voices, including eyewitnesses and survivors, from speaking about the event. Spread assurances of stability. Minimize public displays of grief.The goal is to stifle potential questions and criticism of the authorities, and force the public to move on as quickly as possible. And to a large degree, it appeared to be working.Though many residents of Zhuhai, the city of 2.4 million where the attack happened, were clearly shaken, they said on Wednesday they had not questioned the delay in information, attributing it to the government’s need to first sort out what had happened. A steady stream of people arrived by foot or taxi to lay flowers at the sports center’s entrance, but when officials took away the flowers and told the people not to linger, they quickly complied.Local governments have also vowed in recent months to spend more time screening for people who have experienced “failures,” after a spate of violent attacks, including several cases in which schoolchildren were stabbed.But officials were also clearly on the lookout for any deeper scrutiny of the Zhuhai killings. Videos and photos of the scene of the attack showed only as grayed-out squares on Weibo, a social media platform. Blog posts urging people not to treat violent attacks as isolated incidents, but rather to look deeper for potential social causes, disappeared.

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