On Tuesday, the United States called for the immediate release of Wall Street Journal correspondent Evan Gershkovich, who has been detained in Russia, after Russian authorities extended his detention.
National Security Council Strategic Communications Coordinator John Kirby told CNN that Gershkovich should not have been detained and that his sentence should not have been extended.
Recall that the term of detention of Wall Street Journal correspondent Evan Gershkovich, arrested in Russia in March for espionage, was extended on Tuesday until August 30, Russian media reported, citing a court decision.
The FSB arrested Gershkovich, a US citizen, on March 29 in Yekaterinburg on charges of collecting classified information about Russia’s military-industrial complex, which threatens him with a 20-year prison sentence.
Gershkowitz was first held until May 29; this period has now been extended for a further three months.
A CNN correspondent tweeted that Gershkovich’s parents were present at the hearing at Lefortovo court in Moscow.
Gershkowitz and the Wall Street Journal deny the spying allegations, which President Joe Biden has called illegal.
The United States officially considers the journalist “wrongfully detained”.
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