WASHINGTON (Reuters) – World Bank President Malpass said on Thursday Russia’s detention of Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovic was a “shameless act”. accused it of violating vital press freedoms, including the safety of
Last week, the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) indicted Gershkovic on suspicion of spying. He denied the allegations and said he was working as a journalist, multiple news agencies in Russia reported on the 7th.
The FSB announced on March 30 that it had detained journalist Gershkovic in Yekaterinburg, Ural Federal District, and had opened an investigation into an espionage case that collected state secrets about a military industrial complex.
“It’s a shameless act by Russia, a violation of press freedoms that the World Bank Group has long affirmed to be essential, including the safety of journalists,” Malpass told reporters. He said he hopes Gershkovic and his family can be safely reunited as soon as possible.
“A free press increases transparency and accountability. It checks governance, exposes corruption, communicates ideas and fosters innovation,” Malpass said.
