Evan Gershkovich: US designates Wall Street Journal reporter as wrongfully detained by Russia

Washington (CNN) The US State Department on Monday formally found Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gerszkovic wrongfully detained by Russia.

“Today, Secretary Brinken determined that Evan Gerszkovic is being unjustly detained by Russia,” State Department Chief Deputy Press Secretary Vedant Patel said in a statement.

The designation underscores the U.S. government’s position that the espionage charges against the journalist are baseless, and empowers the U.S. government to do whatever it takes to secure his release.

The Gerszkovic case is now handled by the State Department through the Office of the President’s Special Envoy for Hostage Affairs.

Americans Trevor Reed and Britney Griner, recently repatriated from Russia, were wrongfully detained and released in prisoner exchanges.

Paul Whelan, who remains imprisoned in Russia, was also declared wrongfully detained.

“The U.S. government will provide all appropriate assistance to Mr. Gerszkovic and his family,” Patel said in a statement.

“We call on the Russian Federation to release Mr. Gerszkovic immediately,” he said. “We also call on Russia to release unlawfully detained US citizen Paul Whelan.”

This story is broken and will be updated.