On Thursday, Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) stated that it had detained Evan Gershkovich, a Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reporter working in the country, accusing him of espionage, making it the first time an American reporter has been detained for allegations of spying since the Cold War.
Russia’s Accusations
The FSB alleged that Gershkovich was “acting at the behest of the American side” and accused him of trying to obtain “information constituting a state secret about the activities of an enterprise within Russia’s military-industrial complex.” He was detained in the Urals city of Yekaterinburg, around 1,100 miles east of Moscow.
Gershkovich, on Thursday, appeared in Lefortovsky Court in Moscow, where the charges were presented in a brief hearing. The court ordered him to be held in pre-trial detention until 29 May, as reported by the local media.
An American reporter for The Wall Street Journal has been arrested in Russia on charges of spying for Washington, Russia's FSB security services said Thursday. https://t.co/ENtQGrE0Mi
— CBS News (@CBSNews) March 31, 2023
Russian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Maria Zakharova stated on her Telegram channel that Gershkovich was using his credentials to cover for activities that had “nothing to do with journalism.”
Speaking on the possibility of the closure of Russian corps offices in the US, Kremlin Spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told reporters that this should not be the case because it was not mere suspicion but “[Gershkovich] was caught red-handed.”
WSJ Denies Allegations
The Journal “vehemently” denied all the FSB’s allegations, called Gershkovich a “trusted and dedicated reporter,” and demanded his immediate release. WSJ added that it stands “in solidarity with Evan and his family.”
Gershkovich covers news about Russia and Ukraine as a correspondent in the Journal’s Moscow bureau. As noted by the FSB, he had accreditation from the Russian Foreign Ministry to work as a journalist.
White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre dismissed espionage charges against a Wall Street Journal reporter detained by Russia, calling them 'ridiculous' https://t.co/nbLeUH0MzY pic.twitter.com/fOj8njXBWa
— Reuters (@Reuters) March 30, 2023
US Condemns Russia’s Actions
US President Joe Biden was briefed about the detention of an American journalist in Russia and severely condemned the move.
White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told the reporters at a news briefing that the “espionage charges are ridiculous” and that the Russian government targeting American citizens is unacceptable.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken demanded immediate consular access to Gershkovich so that the US Government could provide appropriate support, and advised all American citizens travelling or residing in Russia to leave immediately.