Biden insists he’s still working on a prisoner swap to free Evan Gershkovich from Russian prison as top Republicans and Democrats in Congress issue rare joint statement on the anniversary of his arrest
President Joe Biden and top political leaders have rejected Putin’s “trumped up charges” against US journalist Evan Gershkovich and demanded his release on the one-year anniversary of his capture in Russia.
On March 29, 2023, Evan Gershkovich, correspondent for the American Wall Street Journal Russia, was arrested by Russian authorities on charges of espionage.
He, his employer and the US government – including its top leaders – deny the allegations and have reiterated that the journalist did nothing wrong.
President Joe Biden released a statement on the one-year anniversary of his detention, condemning the journalist’s “unjust and illegal detention” and saying he is still working on a possible prisoner swap.
“We will continue to work every day to secure his release,” Biden said. “We will continue to expose and impose costs for Russia’s abhorrent attempts to use Americans as a bargaining chip.”
“And we will continue to stand strong against all those who try to attack the press or target journalists – the pillars of the free society.”
Evan Gershkovich, arrested on espionage charges, looks out from a defendant’s cage before a hearing to consider an appeal against his extended pre-trial detention, at the Moscow District Court on February 20, 2024
Top Democrats and Republicans in Congress and President Joe Biden have all alleged that Gershkovich is being wrongfully detained
President Joe Biden released a statement on Friday on the ‘painful anniversary’ of Gershkovich’s ‘wrongful detention in Russia’
“To Evan, to Paul Whelan, and to all Americans being held hostage or wrongfully held abroad: we stand with you. And we will never stop working to bring you home.”
The 32-year-old has been held in a Moscow prison since last year after being arrested in Russia’s fourth-largest city, Yekaterinburg.
According to the newspaper, he spends 23 hours a day in a prison cell Wall Street Journaland meets with his Russian lawyers every week.
Gershkovich has yet to begin his trial.
His pre-trial detention has been extended five times, most recently even further this week Moscow court officials.
The journalist’s detention was extended for another three months and he will be held until at least July 30.
Even more horrifying, he faces 20 years in a Russian penal colony if convicted. But as pre-trial detention extensions continue, it is unclear when his trial will begin.
Speaker Mike Johnson, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries also criticized Gershkovich’s capture in a rare joint statement on Friday.
“Evan Gershkovich, a US citizen and reporter for The Wall Street Journal, has been wrongfully detained by Putin’s government for a year now.”
“We continue to condemn his unwarranted arrest, trumped-up charges and unjust imprisonment.”
“Today Putin is restoring Soviet-style control through repression at home and aggression abroad.”
The joint statement from congressional leaders is a rare show of bipartisanship in politically divided Washington, DC
Danielle Gershkovich, sister of incarcerated journalist Evan Gershkovich, wears a pin that reads #IStandWithEvan
“On the anniversary of Evan Gershkovich’s imprisonment, we reaffirm the importance of his work,” the joint statement from congressional leaders continued.
“Journalism is not a crime, and reporters are not bargaining chips.”
“The Kremlin’s attempts to silence Evan and intimidate other Western reporters will not hinder the pursuit of the truth,” they wrote.
Despite reassurances from America’s top politicians, it is uncertain whether they have made any progress in securing his release.