Ambassador's Visit to Jailed Reporter

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【Summary】US Ambassador to Russia Lynne Tracy visited jailed reporter Evan Gershkovich, who has been held on charges of espionage since March. Tracy stated that Gershkovich appeared to be in good health and remains strong. The US State Department called on Russian authorities to release Gershkovich and another US citizen, Paul Whelan, who is also wrongfully detained. Gershkovich's arrest has raised concerns among journalists in Russia, as no evidence has been provided to support the charges against him.

FutureCar Staff Aug 14, 2023 5:35 PM PT

U.S. Ambassador to Russia Lynne Tracy recently paid a visit to Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, who has been imprisoned in Russia since March on charges of espionage. This marked Tracy's third visit to Gershkovich, with her last visit taking place in early July.

During the visit, Tracy noted that Gershkovich appeared to be in good health and remained strong, despite the challenging circumstances he is facing. The Embassy officials assured Gershkovich and his family that they would continue to provide all necessary support, while also urging Russian authorities to grant continued consular access.

In addition to advocating for Gershkovich's release, the State Department spokesman, Vedant Patel, called for the immediate release of another wrongfully detained U.S. citizen, Paul Whelan. Whelan was arrested in 2018 and later sentenced to 16 years in prison for espionage.

Gershkovich, a 31-year-old U.S. citizen, was arrested in Yekaterinburg while on a reporting trip in Russia. Both Gershkovich and his employer have vehemently denied the espionage allegations, and the U.S. government has declared his detention to be wrongful. Despite the serious charges, Russian authorities have not presented any evidence to support their claims.

Gershkovich is currently being held at Moscow's Lefortovo prison, known for its harsh conditions. His case has drawn attention to the treatment of journalists in Russia, raising concerns among the media community.

It is worth noting that Gershkovich is the first American reporter to face espionage charges in Russia since September 1986 when Nicholas Daniloff, a Moscow correspondent for U.S. News and World Report, was arrested by the KGB. Daniloff was released 20 days later in an exchange for a Soviet Union's U.N. mission employee who had been arrested by the FBI on similar charges.