Evan Gershkovich, a journalist, is well known for his coverage of Russian media in the United States.
A Wall Street Journal correspondent was detained in Russia in March 2023 on suspicion of espionage.
Who is Evan Gershkovich? Wall Street Journal reporter
Russian-speaking Wall Street Journal writer Evan Gershkovich frequently writes about Russia, Ukraine, and the former Soviet Union.
The 31-year-old has been working in Moscow for The Journal for more than a year. Prior to that, he covered Russia for Agence France-Presse and The Moscow Times.
Among other journals, The New York Times, The Economist, MIT Technology Review, Foreign Policy, and Politico Europe have all highlighted his work.
The Russian Foreign Ministry authorised Gershkovich to operate as a correspondent in the nation, according to the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB).
The American citizen’s detention and claimed espionage charges were made public on March 30, 2023, becoming the first American journalist to be detained and charged of being a spy in Russia since the fall of the Soviet Union.
The FSB issued a statement that said the following, despite not yet disclosing the day Gershkovich was taken into custody:
“It was established that E. 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.
“While trying to obtain secret information, the foreigner was detained in Yekaterinburg.”
In a conference call with journalists, Dmitri S. Peskov, a spokesman for Russian President, Vladimir Putin, said: “We’re not talking about suspicions.
“He was caught red-handed.”
What has The Journal said about his arrest?
The news of Gershkovich’s detention comes as hostilities between the US and Russia are rising due to the latter’s invasion of Ukraine.
“The Wall Street Journal vehemently denies the allegations from the F.S.B. and seeks the immediate release of our trusted and dedicated reporter, Evan Gershkovich,” the publication wrote in a statement released Thursday, March 30.
“We stand in solidarity with Evan and his family.”
According to The New York Times: “Mr. Gershkovich faces up to 20 years in prison under Russia’s criminal code. Espionage trials in the country can take months and are typically conducted in secret. Acquittals are virtually unheard-of.”
