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The US government and journals have vehemently denied claims by Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB), the successor to the KGB, that Gershkovic was gathering intelligence on defense companies. Secretary of State Anthony Brinken told reporters on Wednesday that Gerszkovic’s arrest was “definite”. He said the process to seek his release is underway.
The letter’s author called the accusations against Gerszkovic “ridiculous and unjustified” and said the FSB simply hoped the world would take the word for it. Western officials say the Kremlin has a history of unjustly detaining US citizens.
Many of the signatories were independent journalists working for Russian news outlets based outside their home country. The letter was published in media such as Mediazona, whose reporters are scattered outside Russia, and TV Rain, which broadcasts from the Netherlands. Their location symbolizes the collapse of press freedom since President Vladimir Putin ordered an invasion of Ukraine last year.
The letter’s author also compared Gershkovic to Russian journalist Ivan Safronov, who was sentenced in September to 22 years in prison for treason. No, the Washington Post reports.
Putin’s Russia — which has long been hostile to journalists — has cracked down further on dissent over the past year. It threatens with imprisonment of up to 15 years.
A Russian father was arrested and convicted after his 13-year-old daughter drew an anti-war painting at school during the week Gerszkovic was in custody, the Post reported.
Gerszkovic is the first foreign journalist to be detained in Russia on espionage charges since the Cold War. His arrest followed the US indictment of Sergei Cherkasov, a Russian who studied at Johns Hopkins University using what authorities say was a fake Brazilian passport. Cherkasov denies being a spy.
Russia previously released Americans Britney Griner and Trevor Reed in a virtual prison exchange. Griner was detained on drug charges after customs officers found cannabis oil in his luggage at Moscow’s Sheremetyevo International Airport. Reid was sentenced to nine years in prison for endangering the “life and health” of a police officer during his arrest.
The Biden administration has released pilot Konstantin Yaroshenko, who was jailed on drug smuggling charges, and arms dealer Viktor Bout, who was serving a 25-year prison sentence for conspiring to murder an American.
Russian authorities are still holding former Marine Paul Whelan, who was arrested in 2018.
Gerszkovic, 31, was born to Jewish parents who fled the Soviet Union and settled in New Jersey, according to the WSJ. He writes about the war in Ukraine, the Russian economy and Putin’s inner court.
Gerszkovic’s company-appointed attorney met with him in prison this week, WSJ editor-in-chief Emma Tucker said in a letter to colleagues.
“Our thoughts are with Evan’s family above all else,” she said. “They are incredibly resilient in the face of extremely difficult circumstances.”
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