US: Reporter wrongfully detained in Russia
The State Department said the US government will provide all appropriate support to Gershkovich and his family and again called for Russia to release him
The Biden administration formally determined on Monday that a Jewish Wall Street Journal reporter arrested in Russia on espionage charges has been “wrongfully detained”.
The designation elevates the case of Evan Gershkovich in the US government hierarchy and means that a dedicated State Department office will take the lead on securing his release.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced the determination on Monday, saying he condemned the arrest and Russia’s repression of independent media.
“Journalism is not a crime. We condemn the Kremlin’s continued repression of independent voices in Russia, and its ongoing war against the truth,” the department said in a statement.
Russian authorities arrested Gershkovich, 31 on March 29. He is the first US correspondent since the Cold War to be detained for alleged spying.
The Federal Security Service specifically accused Gershkovich of trying to obtain classified information about a Russian arms factory. However, The Wall Street Journal has denied the accusations.
The State Department said the US government will provide all appropriate support to Gershkovich and his family and again called for Russia to release him as well as another detained American citizen, Paul Whelan.
Monday’s statement from Blinken was the first public comment on the case since Russian news agencies reported last Friday that Gershkovich had been charged with espionage and had entered a formal denial.
The news outlets didn’t say in what form Gershkovich was formally charged or when it happened, but generally, suspects are presented a paper outlining the accusations.
In the Russian legal system, the filing of charges and a response from the accused represent the formal start of a criminal probe, initiating what could be a long and secretive Russian judicial process. The case has caused an international uproar.
TIMES OF ISRAEL, AP
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