Post: US journalist: Moscow warns of threats

He had reported from Russia on politics and the Ukraine conflict. Evan Gershkovic is currently in custody there. Moscow makes it clear: we do not accept threats from Washington.

Russia warned the United States of threats in the case of arrested American journalist Evan Gershkovich. A spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement on Russian television that the United States did not try to understand the process. “They immediately resort to threats and reprisals against Russian journalists,” he told Rossiya 1 channel. If this approach continues “in the public arena”, the United States will “reap the storm”.

US President Joe Biden urged Russia to release Gershkovich. When asked whether the United States will expel Russian diplomats, Biden said he is not currently planning to do so.

The Wall Street Journal denied the allegations.

Russia announced on Thursday that a reporter from the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) had been arrested on espionage charges. The WSJ editor-in-chief denied the allegations in a comment and explained the US government’s reaction as follows:

The expulsion of the Russian ambassador to the United States and all Russian journalists working there would be the least that could be expected.

“Wall Street Journal” editor-in-chief

US citizen Gershkovich has been reporting on Russia since 2017. Before WSJ, he worked for the English-language newspaper “The Moscow Times” and the AFP news agency. The 31-year-old actress has mainly covered Russian politics and the Ukrainian war in recent months.

Media representatives demand the release of Gershkovich

Representatives of media and press rights organizations of different countries urged Russia to release Gershkovich. The open letter to the Russian ambassador to Washington, published Friday by the nonprofit Committee to Protect Journalists, said:

Gershkovich is a journalist, not a spy, and should be released immediately and unconditionally.

Open letter from the Committee to Protect Journalists

The letter was signed by 38 representatives of well-known international media such as the New York Times, British BBC, Associated Press and Agence France-Presse. Among the signatories were press freedom organizations such as PEN America and the International Press Institute.

White House condemns Gershkovich’s detention

A court in Moscow has issued an arrest warrant for alleged spying for the United States. The court said the reporter was initially detained until May 29. Gershkovich, born in 1991, faces up to 20 years in prison if found guilty.

The US government strongly condemned Gershkovich’s arrest. “The Russian government’s persecution of American citizens is unacceptable,” the White House said. “We are deeply concerned by the disturbing news that American citizen Evan Gershkovich has been arrested in Russia.” The US State Department is in direct contact with the Russian government and is actively trying to give Gershkovich consular access.

You can always find the latest news about the Russian attack on Ukraine on our live blog:

Source: ZDF

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