- Secretary of State of the U.S. Antony Blinken calls for the release of an American journalist arrested in Russia over espionage charges
- Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov refused to release Evan Gershkovich
- The Federal Security Service of the Russian Federation (FSB) claims that the individual targeted a company in its military-industrial complex
The US Secretary of State Antony Blinken urged Russia to release the American journalist arrested and detained under suspicion of spying, a demand that Moscow has refused.
Russia's Foreign Minister, Sergei Lavrov, declined the American government's plea to release Evan Gershkovich in a rare phone call. He argued that US officials and media outlets should not "make a fuss" or attempt to politicize the situation of the journalist.
Russia Refuses To Release US Journalist
In a statement, Blinken said that the individual's arrest regarding espionage charges was simply unacceptable. Based on the US official readout of the call, he also insisted that Gershkovich be given "immediate release" by Russian officials.
The 31-year-old was first detained on Wednesday by Russian authorities in the Urals city of Ekaterinburg and faced allegations of collecting "classified information." The Federal Security Service of the Russian Federation (FSB) argued that he targeted a company in its military-industrial complex, as per The Guardian.
The Wall Street Journal, which Gerskovich works for, said it "vehemently denies the allegations" of the Russian government. It added that it would campaign for the release of the journalist. On the other hand, experts said that Russia could simply use the individual as a hostage as a bargaining chip amid rising global tensions.
But Lavrov told Blinken that Gerskovich was caught red-handed trying to acquire classified information. The Russian foreign minister also claimed that the reporter was attempting to collect state secrets under the guise of being a journalist.
The Russian side provided no further evidence regarding its claims over Gershkovic's arrest and alleged espionage. However, Lavrov warned the American government against increasing campaigning for the individual's release, saying that they should allow Russia's judicial process to play out.
Politicizing the Situation
The Russian Foreign Ministry released a statement saying that Blinken's focus was drawn to the need to respect the decision of Moscow. It added that it was "unacceptable" for Washington officials to cause a stir and give the situation political meaning, according to ABC.net.
Before being detained in Russia, Gershkovich was considered someone who reported stories that "needed to be told." One of his friends from college, Nora Biette-Timmons, said that the journalist had no hesitation and was ready to try something completely new.
Many top editors and press freedom organizations worldwide have written letters to the Russian ambassador calling for the journalist's release. They argued that the detainment was "unwarranted and unjust" and called it a significant escalation attempt by Moscow's government in its anti-press actions.
The letters also claimed that Russia was sending a message that journalism within its borders would be criminalized and that foreign correspondents seeking to report from within the territory are not given the benefits of the rule of law, said the New York Times.
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