An undated ID photo of journalist Evan Gershkovich. – A US reporter for The Wall Street Journal newspaper has been detained in Russia for espionage, Russian news agencies reported Thursday, citing the FSB security services.
– | Afp | Getty Images
Russian authorities plan to detain an American journalist who works for The Wall Street Journal for 2 months.
The reporter, Evan Gershkovich, was detained on suspicion of espionage, in keeping with Russia’s Federal Security Service. Shortly after, a Moscow court ordered Gershkovich’s detention to last until May 29, in keeping with the Journal, which cited local reports.
Gershkovich’s detention escalates already high tensions between the USA and Russia. The U.S. government is spending billions to support Ukraine’s defense against invading Russian forces.
Officials from the White House and the State Department spoke with the Journal Wednesday night regarding Gershkovich’s detention, in keeping with a press release from White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre. The Biden administration has also been involved with Gershkovich’s family, and the State Department has been in direct contact with the Russian government, Jean-Pierre said.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a press release his agency has been looking for “consular access” to Gershkovich.
“Within the strongest possible terms, we condemn the Kremlin’s continued attempts to intimidate, repress, and punish journalists and civil society voices,” Blinken said.
The FSB alleged Gershkovich “was collecting information constituting a state secret concerning the activities of one in all the enterprises of the military-industrial complex of Russia.” Gershkovich pleaded not guilty to espionage charges, in keeping with Russian state news agency Tass. If convicted, Gershkovich could resist 20 years in prison.
Daniil Berman, the lawyer of arrested Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, speaks to journalists near the Lefortovsky court, in Moscow, Russia, Thursday, March 30, 2023. Russia’s top security agency says an American reporter for the Wall Street Journal has been arrested on espionage charges.Â
Alexander Zemlianichenko | AP
The Wall Street Journal adamantly denied the fees, adding that it sought “the immediate release of our trusted and dedicated reporter.”
“We stand in solidarity with Evan and his family,” the Journal said.
Since January 2022, Gershkovich has worked for the Journal in Moscow. Before that, he reported within the country for AFP and The Moscow Times, in keeping with his LinkedIn account. Prior to that he was a news assistant for The Recent York Times.Â
Gershkovich’s most up-to-date article, published Tuesday with a co-byline, was headlined “Russia’s Economy Is Beginning to Come Undone.”
Russia is one in all the worst countries on this planet for press freedom, in keeping with a 2022 index from Reporters Without Borders, a nonprofit advocacy group. It has gotten worse since Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine in early 2022, in keeping with the organization.
The country’s government has an extended history of harassing journalists, including detaining foreigners on spying charges that appear more politically motivated.
Recently, Russian President Vladimir Putin has overseen a significant crackdown on free speech and political dissent.
Each Blinken and Jean-Pierre stressed the continued importance of heeding the U.S. government’s warning as regards to U.S. residents residing in or traveling to Russia.
“U.S. residents residing or traveling in Russia should depart immediately, because the State Department continues to advise,” Jean-Pierre said.
