U.S. Ambassador to Russia Lynne Tracy visited Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich at Lefortovo Prison in Moscow. This visit comes after a Moscow court extended Gershkovich’s detention on espionage charges by three months. The court’s decision to extend his detention was appealed by Gershkovich. The U.S. Embassy Moscow released a statement expressing support for Gershkovich and declaring his detention as “wrongfully detained.”
Gershkovich remains strong and is updated with the latest news, including his parents’ efforts to advocate for his release at the United Nations headquarters. The U.S. Embassy Moscow reiterated its call for his immediate release, along with Paul Whelan, who is also detained in Russia.
Gershkovich was arrested in Yekaterinburg in March while on a reporting assignment. He is accused of espionage on behalf of the United States, but both he and his employer deny these allegations. The Wall Street Journal expressed disappointment over his continued detention, stating that the accusations against him are baseless.
Concerns have been raised about Gershkovich’s incarceration in Lefortovo Prison due to its harsh conditions. President Joe Biden previously mentioned the possibility of a prisoner swap for Gershkovich, but no concrete developments have been reported.
In a related development, the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs expelled two U.S. diplomats, leading to a swift response from the U.S. Embassy Moscow. The embassy rejected the basis for their expulsion, asserting that the diplomats’ work was consistent with their diplomatic status. The U.S. government warned of a potential response to this escalation.
Gershkovich is the first American reporter to face espionage charges in Russia since 1986. The Russian Foreign Ministry has indicated that a swap for Gershkovich could be considered after a verdict is reached in his trial, which could last for over a year under Russian legal procedures.