US Ambassador to Russia Lynn Tracy said on Monday that she had visited in prison for the first time Wall Street Journal correspondent Evan Gershkovich, accused by Moscow of espionage.
According to Tracy, Gershkovich is in good spirits.
“This is the first time we have had access to Evan since he was wrongfully detained over two weeks ago. He is feeling well and holding strong. We again call for Evan’s immediate release” , Tracy said in a statement on Telegram.
Recall that Gershkovich, a journalist hired by the Wall Street Journal shortly before Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, was arrested last month in Yekaterinburg.
For the first time since 1986, an American correspondent is detained in Russia for espionage.
The Wall Street Journal denied the charge, which carried a sentence of up to 20 years in prison. The White House called the accusation “ridiculous”; President Joe Biden has stressed that Hershkowitz’s detention was “absolutely unlawful.”
Evan Gershkovich (file photo)
Tracy did not specify the duration of her visit, which took place on the eve of a hearing at which Gershkovich’s appeal is to be considered.
Last week, the United States declared Gershkowitz “wrongfully detained”, effectively pointing out that the espionage charges are false and that the Gershkowitz case is political in nature.
White House special envoy for hostage issues Roger Carstens has promised to do “everything possible” to bring back Gershkovich and Paul Whelan, a former Marine convicted by Russian authorities of espionage in 2020 and also recognized by Washington as wrongfully detained.
Meanwhile, the United States and more than 40 other countries, in a joint statement on Monday, expressed concern over Russia’s detention of Gershkovich and protested “Moscow’s efforts to restrict and intimidate the media.” .
The statement, which was reportedly read at the UN on Monday by US Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield, also called on Russian authorities to release those they hold for political reasons and end their brutal crackdown on freedom. of expression, including towards the media. representatives.
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