Peskov called absurd the WSJ’s call to expel all Russian journalists from the United States

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has called absurd the call by the American newspaper The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) to expel all Russian journalists from the United States after the arrest in Russia of WSJ correspondent Evan Gershkovich , suspected of espionage. On this subject informed RIA News.
“All journalists who have valid accreditation here, I mean foreign journalists, they can (conduct) and continue their journalistic activities in our country. They are unrestricted and work flawlessly,” Peskov said.
He said that in Gershkovich’s case “we are talking about activities under the cover of a journalist, espionage activities in essence.” For the expulsion of Russian journalists from the United States, “there is no reason”, believes Peskov.
“If there are violations of the law, there are some that fall outside the scope of the activities provided for by law, yes. But in this case, restricting the rights of conscientious journalists would be absurd and wrong,” concluded Peskov.
Earlier he said Gershkovich “was caught in the act”.
WSJ in its editorial column suggested that Gershkovich was arrested to be traded for Russians, who are charged with crimes in the United States. The editors called on President Joe Biden’s administration to seek the journalist’s release and, at a minimum, expel the Russian ambassador and all Russian journalists from the United States.
“The primary responsibility of the US government is to protect its citizens, and far too many governments now believe they can arrest and jail Americans with impunity,” writes the WSJ.
US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken has urged US citizens living in or traveling to Russia to leave the country immediately. He assured that the State Department is in direct contact with the Russian government on the situation with Gershkovich.
On March 30, the FSB reported that Gershkovich had been detained in Yekaterinburg. A criminal espionage case has been brought against him. The FSB said that Gershkovich was collecting information constituting a state secret about one of the enterprises of the Russian military-industrial complex. The Lefortovo court in Moscow arrested the journalist for two months.