The US State Department has again urged Americans in Russia to leave the country immediately following the arrest of a US journalist on espionage charges that US officials have called fictitious.
“I would like to clarify that it is not safe for US citizens to be in the Russian Federation,” State Department spokesman Vedant Patel said. “All U.S. citizens living in or traveling to Russia should leave immediately, in accordance with our latest travel advisory.”
He said Americans who need help leaving Russia should contact the US Embassy in Moscow.
“Unfortunately, we are seeing how the Russian government’s growing repression is affecting journalists, as well as civil society activists and large swaths of Russian society,” Patel said.
He recalled that since February 24, 2022, dozens of media outlets and more than 100 individual media workers have been given the status of “foreign agents” or “undesirable organizations” for doing their job.
“Russian citizens are routinely imprisoned or fined for reporting facts or attempting to share an opinion that differs from the Kremlin’s interpretation of events,” Patel continued. “Our top priority will always be the citizens of the United States, but I would like to reiterate to independent Russian journalists and civil society representatives who continue to speak out, whether in prison or in exile: we stand in full solidarity with YOU.
“I want it to be clear and unequivocal in the strongest possible terms that we condemn the Kremlin’s continued attempts to intimidate, suppress and punish journalists and civil society,” a spokesman for the media said. state department.
He noted that the US Embassy will request the prompt provision of consular access to the arrested Wall Street Journal reporter.
The White House dismissed spying allegations against Russian-detained Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich as ridiculous and said there was no reason to consider the charges reliable.“These espionage charges are ridiculous. The persecution of American citizens by the Russian government is unacceptable,” White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said during a press briefing on Thursday.The White House also said the State Department is in direct contact with the Russian government in connection with Gershkovich’s alleged detention.
Secretary of State Anthony Blinken released a statement Thursday regarding Gershkovich’s detention, saying the State Department’s top priority is the safety of American citizens abroad.“We are deeply concerned by Russia’s widely publicized detention of a US citizen journalist. We are in contact with the Wall Street Journal regarding this situation. Whenever a U.S. citizen is detained overseas, we immediately contact the consulate and work to provide all necessary support, the State Department said in a statement. “We condemn in the strongest terms the Kremlin’s continued attempts to intimidate, suppress and punish journalists and civil society.”
The Biden administration is also in contact with the journalist’s family and his employer, the statement said.

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