MOSCOW: US Ambassador to Russia, Lynne Tracy, visited Evan Gershkovich, a Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reporter detained in a Moscow prison on espionage charges, on Monday.
The ambassador’s visit marks the first consular access to Gershkovich since his arrest over two weeks ago. According to Tracy’s statement in Russian on Telegram, Gershkovich was in good spirits and holding up well.
The ambassador also reiterated the US government’s call for Gershkovich’s immediate release, stating that his detention was wrongful.
Gershkovich, who was arrested last month in the Urals city of Yekaterinburg, has been accused of espionage by the Moscow authorities.
Both the Wall Street Journal and the US government have denied the charges. If convicted, Gershkovich could face up to 20 years in prison.
The US government has been vocal in its criticism of Gershkovich’s detention, with the State Department issuing a statement on April 7 condemning the Russian government’s actions.
US calls for Gershkovich’s release
In the statement, the State Department called for Gershkovich’s release and criticized Russia’s treatment of journalists and media organizations.
The Wall Street Journal has also called for Gershkovich’s release and has stated that it stands by his reporting.
In a statement released on April 7, the newspaper said that Gershkovich was a “talented and dedicated journalist” who was being unjustly held by the Russian authorities.
Gershkovich’s arrest has been widely condemned by media organizations and press freedom groups.
The Committee to Protect Journalists, an international press freedom organization, has called for his immediate release and has stated that his detention is part of a wider crackdown on independent journalism in Russia.
The Russian government has not yet responded to the calls for Gershkovich’s release.
In a statement released on March 28, the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) accused Gershkovich of receiving classified information from a Russian citizen and passing it on to an unnamed foreign intelligence agency.
