7 minutes agoRussia arrests American journalist on spying charge
Periskopi(3 years ago)
(3 years ago)An American journalist working for the Wall Street Journal has been arrested in Russia on spying charges. Evan Gershkovich, an experienced reporter reporting on Russia, worked in Yekaterinburg at the time of his ban. The Wall Street Journal said it was “equally concerned” for his security and strongly denied the charges against [...]
Evan Gershkovich, an experienced reporter reporting on Russia, worked in Yekaterinburg at the time of his ban.
The Wall Street Journal said it was “equally concerned” for his security and strongly denied the charges against him.
The Kremlin claimed that the journalist was “captured in the flaggart”.
The FSB said it had “stopped illegal activities” and that the reporter “had acted according to US guidelines” and “by collecting state secrets”.
Hours later, the security service took him to Lefortovo County Court in Moscow for his arrest. He was later seen escorting out of the building before leaving. The court imposed its detention until 29 May.
His lawyer said he was not allowed in the courtroom, and the Tas news agency reported that the journalist had denied the prosecution. The court earlier had been released from staff and visitors due to a bomb threat, Russia's state news agency Ria said.
The FSB confirmed in its statement that Evan Gershkovich had foreign ministry accreditation while working in Yekaterinburg 1,800km east of Moscow.
His last W scripture SJ reported this week on Russia's declining economy and on how the Kremlin had to cope with “military expansion” by preserving social spending.
But the FSB claimed he had been arrested “acting on US guidelines” and that he “had collected information representing a state secret about the activities of a Russian defence company”. A criminal spying case was initiated by the FSB Investigation Department, he added.
In a statement, the Wall Street Journal said it stood in solidarity with reporter and his family: <x0Wall Street Journal strongly denies accusations by FSB and requires the immediate release of our trusted and dedicated reporter, Evan Gershkovich”.
The Kremlin also commented on the ban on American journalism. “This is the responsibility of the FSB, they have already issued a statement”, spokesman Dmitry Peskov said. “The only thing I can add is, as far as we know, he got caught in flock”.
Spying in Russia carries a maximum sentence of 20 years.
Even before Ukraine's full - scale invasion in February 2022, reporting from Russia had become increasingly difficult.
Independent journalists labeled “foreign agents” and BBC correspondent Russia Sarah Rainsford was expelled from the country
