“Wall Street Journal”: concern for arrested US reporter

After the arrest in Russia, the “Wall Street Journal” fears for the safety of its reporter Gershkovich. The US government condemned his detention and again called on its citizens to leave Russia.

The New York-based newspaper said it was “deeply concerned for the safety” of its journalist in a statement. According to the Russian secret service FSB, Evan Gershkovich was arrested in Yekaterinburg. The area around the city in the Urals is considered one of the strongholds of the Russian defense industry.

The Moscow authorities accuse the journalist of espionage and issued an arrest warrant. The man was caught red-handed when he was commissioned by the US site to collect “information about a company belonging to the military-industrial complex” that constituted a state secret.

The Russian Foreign Ministry said he used his accreditation as a cover for activities unrelated to journalism. If convicted, he faces up to 20 years in prison.

Research on Wagner recruitment attempts

The Wall Street Journal “vehemently” rejected the allegations against its journalist and called for his release. “We stand in solidarity with Evan and his family,” it said.

Reporters Without Borders said it was “deeply concerned” by what appeared to be retaliatory action. According to the organization, the 31-year-old was researching recruitment attempts by military company Wagner, a mercenary group that plays a key role in Russia’s offensive in Ukraine.

Report on Russian economic downturn

Gershkovich moved to the Wall Street Journal last year. He had previously written for the French news agency AFP and the New York Times, among others. The reporter speaks fluent Russian and is a member of the Moscow bureau of The Wall Street Journal.

His most recent report, out this week, was on Russia’s economic slowdown over Western-imposed sanctions following the invasion of Ukraine. Born in Russia, Gershkovich’s family immigrated to the United States when he was a child.

Gershkovich is the first US media reporter to be arrested in Russia on espionage charges since the Cold War. Americans are repeatedly suspected of espionage. However, this is the first case of a journalist officially accredited to the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

White House: US citizens should leave Russia immediately

The US government “strongly condemned” the journalist’s detention in Russia. “The Russian government’s persecution of American citizens is unacceptable,” the White House said. Washington renewed its call for US citizens to leave Russia immediately.

The presence of Americans in Russia is deeply concerning, said White House Communications Director John Kirby. One was surprised by the arrest of Evan Gershkovich and the allegations against him. Kirby said there had been no advance warning and no indication that Russia was planning any kind of major action against journalists in general.