US envoy visits WSJ journalist Evan Gershkovich in Russian jail

World
By William

Ambassador says the reporter is “in good health and staying strong” as dozens of countries express concern over his arrest.

Washington, D.C. – The US ambassador to Russia has visited detained Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich in a Moscow prison.

Ambassador Lynne Tracy confirmed on Monday that Gershkovich is “in good health and staying strong”. Her visit comes a week after Washington formally labeled Gershkovich as “unjustly detained”.

“I visited WSJ’s Evan #Gershkovich today at Lefortovo Prison – the first time we have had access to him since his wrongful detention more than two weeks ago,” Tracy said in a tweet Monday.

Russia arrested Gershkovich and charged him with espionage late last month, but US officials early on dismissed the allegations as “ridiculous”.

Gershkovich has appealed his detention and a Russian court will hear his case on Tuesday, US media reported.

US officials had been calling on Russia since his arrest to grant consular access to Gershkovich, accusing Moscow of violating international law by not allowing US diplomats to contact him.

Later on Monday, more than 45 countries signed a statement expressing concern over Gershkovich’s arrest and calling on Russia to release prisoners held for “political reasons”.

The countries – mainly Western countries linked to Washington – also urged Moscow to end what they called “the draconian crackdown on freedom of expression, including against members of the media.”

“We protest against Russian attempts to restrict and intimidate the media,” the statement said. “Free, independent and pluralistic media play an indispensable role in informing people around the world.”

Linda Thomas-Greenfield, the US ambassador to the United Nations, welcomed news of Monday’s consular access to Gershkovich. She had previously made attempts to garner support for the journalist.

“We are absolutely thrilled to have had the opportunity to see him, but we are still asking for his unconditional release,” said Thomas-Greenfield. “He is being held unfairly and unjustly, and the Russians must allow him to return to his family.”

Press freedom groups and the Wall Street Journal have also denounced Gershkovich’s detention, which unfolded as tensions continued to rise between Washington and Moscow during Russia’s war in Ukraine.

Proponents say Gershkovich’s arrest is part of Russia’s wider crackdown on the media as it continues its invasion of its neighbour.

But Russian authorities claim that Gershkovich was “caught red-handed and violated the laws of the Russian Federation”. They have provided no evidence to support the allegations.

Last week, President Joe Biden described Gershkovich’s detention as “totally illegal” and called his family.

The reporter is now one of two US citizens being “unjustly detained” by Moscow, according to Washington. Paul Whelan, a US Navy veteran, was previously sentenced to 16 years in 2020 on espionage charges that Washington says are false.

Late last year, Russia released American basketball player Brittney Griner in a prisoner exchange that did not involve Whelan. Griner was detained on drug charges days before Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine.

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