Russian President Vladimir Putin’s government in Moscow has formally charged U.S. journalist Evan Gershkovich with espionage, Russian news agencies reported on Friday. Gershkovich, a Wall Street Journal correspondent, denied the accusations. The FSB investigators, according to the state‑run agency TASS, charged him with spying “in the interests of his country.” TASS added that Gershkovich “categorically denied all accusations and stated that he was engaged in journalistic activities in Russia.”
The arrest has sparked outrage from media outlets, rights groups, and U.S. officials. The Wall Street Journal, one of the United States’ most prestigious publications, “vehemently denies the allegations” against its “trusted and dedicated reporter.” The case has been classified as secret, limiting the amount of information available to the public.
Gershkovich’s detention is viewed as a serious escalation of Moscow’s crackdown on the media and comes amid a sharply deteriorated relationship between Russia and Washington following the Ukraine offensive. The United States has long accused Russia of arbitrarily arresting Americans to secure the release of detained Russians. President Joe Biden called for Gershkovich’s release on Friday, and the White House described the accusations as “ridiculous.” Russia responded on Thursday that attempts to pressure Moscow over the case are “pointless.”
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