Blinken urges Lavrov for release of WSJ reporter caught in espionage

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
3 Apr 2023 07:51

WSJ reporter Evan Gershkovich was arrested after he was caught by Russia’s Federal Security Service while trying to obtain information classified as secret by the Russian government.

The seal of the US Department of State is seen on the lectern in a briefing room in Washington, DC, Nov. 26, 2013. (AFP)

The Russian Foreign Ministry announced on Sunday that US Secretary of State Antony Blinken discussed with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov via phone call the detention of Evan Gershkovich, a Wall Street Journal reporter who was arrested on March 30 on espionage charges.

Lavrov reportedly told Blinken during their phone conversation that the reporter was caught while attempting to collect classified information.

As Blinken urged for Gershkovich's immediate release, Lavrov stressed the necessity to respect the Russian government's decisions, noting that the reporter's fate will be determined by a court.

Evan Gershkovich was arrested after he was caught by Russia’s Federal Security Service while trying to obtain information classified as secret by the Russian government.

On Thursday, the Lefortovo District Court of Moscow ruled that the reporter be put in pre-trial detention for two months.

According to the FSB, Gershkovich, "acting on the instructions of the American side, collected information constituting a state secret about the activities of one of the enterprises of the Russian military-industrial complex."

Read more: NATO has supported Ukraine with $70.8 bln last year: NATO deputy chief

Russian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Maria Zakharova affirmed on March 31 that Moscow will provide consular access to Gershkovich in accordance with internal procedures.

Zakharova wrote on her Telegram channel that Gershkovich was not engaged in any journalistic work.

"What an employee of the US paper The Wall Street Journal was doing in Yekaterinburg has nothing to do with journalism," Zakharova said.

The Wall Street Journal rebuked accusations from Moscow that alleged Gershkovich was carrying out espionage activities, adding that it would seek Gershkovich's immediate release.

It also called on the US government to adopt retaliatory measures, such as expulsing the Russian ambassador and all Russian journalists working in the US.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said that journalists who own valid accreditation in Russia may and will continue their journalistic operations in the country, adding that they do not face any restrictions.