Charged with espionage, American journalist Evan Gershkovish had been arrested by Russian authorities in the city of Yekaterinburg where he was doing his work. This detention makes him the first American journalist to ever be arrested in Russia since the cold war.
Evan, 31, is an American journalist and reporter at the Wall Street Journal covering Russia, Ukraine and the former Soviet Union, and is well known among foreign correspondents in Moscow.
The Kremlin claimed that he had been caught “red-handed” while he was collecting information classified on a state secret about the activities of a Russian defense enterprise. It is worth noting that espionage in Russia carries a maximum jail term of 20 years.
The court where Gershkovic’ lawyer had not been allowed into, ordered to remain him in detention until 29 May. While many experts believe that Russia might be trying to use Gershkovish as a hostage.
On the other hand, the White House has condemned his detention in the strongest terms, when Blinken, the US Secretary of State called for Russia to free Gershkovish in a call with his Moscow counterpart. While Russian foreign minister rejects request and says US must not “make a fuss” the arrest of Gershkovish.
The detention of Gershkovish makes media freedom in Russia even worse since the invasion of Ukraine, making lives of reporters working in Russia in danger.
OME calls for the immediate release of Evan Gershkovish since journalists should be allowed to do their work freely.
