Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, who was arrested last week in Russia for espionage, met his lawyers for the first time on Tuesday. Editor-in-chief Emma Tucker spoke about it in an address to the editor.
“Evan’s health is well and he is grateful for the support from around the world,” Tucker said in a letter, a copy of which was obtained by Reuters.
“Evan’s family was relieved to know that we finally got in touch with him,” Tucker said, adding that the reporter’s meeting with lawyers had given her encouragement. Last Thursday, a Moscow court sent Gershkovich to a remand center until May 29 on charges of up to 20 years in prison.
Gershkovich appealed the detention through his lawyers. The White House said the administration was working hard to secure his release.
The Russian Federal Security Service announced the detention of two Russian citizens, a married couple, suspected of spying to gather information about a tank factory in Nizhny Tagil. According to the Russian news agency TASS, citing the FSB, the couple passed on technical information about the plant to Ukraine.
Last week, a Russian political scientist told Reuters that Gershkovich planned to visit Nizhny Tagil, about 1,400 kilometers east of Moscow.
Gershkovich is being held in Lefortovo prison in Moscow, the main detention center for high-level suspects and those accused of espionage or treason.
“We continue to call for his immediate release. The legal route is one of the many ways we are using to free Evan,†the Wall Street Journal editor said.
The publication denies the allegations against the journalist. Last week, Russian authorities arrested Gershkovich without providing evidence that he had been “caught in the act”.
