US Demands Release of Journalist Gershkovich Detained in Russia

The US is diligently working towards the release of Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, who has been detained in Russia on suspicion of espionage, said John Kirby, the National Security Council’s Coordinator for Strategic Communications. Kirby's comments were reported by TASS.

He reminded that Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov discussed this issue. Kirby emphasized that the White House condemns the journalist's detention and wants him back "as soon as possible."

"As you know, we have been steadfastly insisting on this since the moment we learned he was detained by the Russians on ridiculous charges," Kirby stated.

On March 30, the Russian Federal Security Service announced that Gershkovich was arrested in Yekaterinburg. The agency reported that the reporter is suspected of spying on behalf of the US government.

Editors from The Wall Street Journal have demanded the release of the journalist and also called for the expulsion of Russian journalists and the ambassador from the US.

US President Joe Biden assured that US authorities will not expel accredited Russian journalists.

During a phone conversation on April 2, Lavrov, among other things, informed Blinken about the inadmissibility of inciting "hysteria" over Gershkovich's case in the US.