The WSJ correspondent became the first American journalist to be detained in Russia on charges of espionage since 1986.
The American journalist detained in Russia is not a spy. Moreover, there is no evidence to the contrary. This was announced on Thursday, March 30, by the Administration of US President Joe Biden, writes CNN.
They noted that they were conducting their own investigation into the circumstances of the detention of a Wall Street Journal reporter in the Russian Federation, but it was already clear that he was not spying in the country.
“We have been very clear that there is no reason to believe these allegations are accurate,” said White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre.
In turn, the European Union condemned the detention of American journalist and US citizen Evan Gershkovich in the Russian Federation. This is stated in the Telegram channel of the European Commission.
“Journalists should be allowed to practice their profession freely and deserve protection,” the statement said.
EU High Representative Josep Borrell stressed that the Russian authorities are once again demonstrating a systematic disregard for media freedom.
It is known that the FSB of the Russian Federation announced the detention of Evan Gershkovich in Yekaterinburg. According to the intelligence service, the journalist “on the instructions of the United States was collecting information about one of the enterprises of the Russian military-industrial complex, which constitute a state secret.”
Earlier on Thursday, it became known about the detention of Evan Gershkovich in Russian Yekaterinburg. The FSB of the Russian Federation accuses him of “espionage”. Charges were filed under the relevant article of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation. The journalist faces up to 20 years in prison.
In turn, The Wall Street Journal denies the allegations against Evan Gershkovich and demands to release him immediately.
