Ajit Karn
On Friday, investigators from the Russian Federal Security Service charged Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich with espionage, but he denied the accusations, citing Russian state media.
“The FSB investigation accused Evan Gershkovich with espionage in the national interest. According to media reports, he categorically denied all allegations and stated that he was engaged in journalistic activities in Russia.
Last week, Russian authorities arrested Gershkovich on suspicion of espionage, signaling a significant escalation of Moscow’s tensions with the United States and its campaign against foreign news media.
Since the conclusion of the cold war, Gershkovich is the first American journalist to be detained in Russia on espionage charges.
According to media, FSB investigators formally accused Gershkovich with spying for the United States, but Gershkovich denied the charge.
An unnamed source was quoted by Tass as saying, “He categorically denied all the accusations and stated that he was engaged in journalistic activities in Russia.”
According to the media, the representative declined to comment further because the journalist’s case was classified as “top secret.”
A Moscow court will consider an appeal against Gershkovich’s arrest on April 18, according to Russian state media citing the court. According to media reports, the correspondent is presently being held in the notorious Leftereovo pre-detention center until May 29.
The Journal vehemently denied the espionage allegation against Gershkovich, calling his arrest “a vicious affront to a free press” that “should infuriate all free people and governments in the world.”
Secretary of State Antony Blinken stated on Wednesday that he urged Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov to promptly release Gershkovich.
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Media reported on Tuesday that the Biden administration is preparing to officially declare Gershkovich to be unjustly detained in Russia, two US officials told the media, a move that will mobilize additional US government resources towards his release.
