On Monday, the State Department designated American journalist Evan Gershkovich, arrested in Russia on March 30, as “wrongfully detained”. Now the issue of his return to his homeland has been transferred to the Office of the Special Representative of the President of the United States for Hostage Affairs.
Russia has not granted US diplomats access to Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, despite the fact that nearly two weeks have passed since the journalist’s arrest. According to State Department deputy spokesman Vedanth Patel, this is a violation of international law.
“Journalism is not a crime. We condemn the Kremlin’s continued suppression of independent voices in Russia and its ongoing war on truth,” the State Department said in a statement. “The US government will provide all necessary support to Mr. Gershkovich and his family. We call on the Russian Federation to release Mr. Gershkovich immediately. We also call on Russia to release illegally detained US citizen Paul Whelan.”
Speaking at a State Department press briefing on Monday, Patel said Moscow had officially notified Washington of the journalist’s detention over the weekend, but the United States had not yet obtained consular access to Gershkovich, who was arrested on March 30 for espionage.
“It’s a violation of Russia’s obligations under the consular convention, it’s a violation of international law. We have stressed the need for the Russian government to provide this access as soon as possible,” Patel said.
Patel said the reluctance to let US diplomats near the detained journalist was “a matter of human dignity”.
When asked if the US has any legal remedies in this case, Patel said the State Department “has a number of tools…to hold the Russian Federation accountable.” He added that this issue falls within the domain of consular relations between the two countries, “we are working on it through the appropriate channels”.
On Friday, White House National Security Council strategic communications coordinator John Kirby called the Russian authorities’ denial of consular access to Gershkovich “unforgivable.”
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