Russian President Vladimir Putin personally approved the arrest of Wall Street Journal (WSJ) Moscow bureau correspondent Evan Gershkovich, who is now in the Lefortovo pre-trial detention center in Moscow on suspicion of espionage. It is reported by Bloomberg, citing sources familiar with the situation.
According to sources of the publication, the initiative to arrest the American journalist came from high-ranking officials in the Russian special services. The interlocutors noted that Putin's approval of the arrest of a foreign correspondent for the first time in almost 40 years shows how the influence of hardliners in the Kremlin who insist on a confrontation with Washington is growing.
Hershkovich's detention drew condemnation from the United States and its allies, marking another downturn in US-Russian relations that had deepened since Putin's invasion of Ukraine.
Alina Polyakova, president of the Center for European Policy Analysis in Washington, said that this should be a "real wake-up call" not only for the United States, but for the entire West. “This is a signal that in Putin’s mind there is no way back to a stable and secure relationship,” she says.
Gershkovich was detained in Yekaterinburg on March 30 and arrested for two months in a case of espionage and collecting information constituting a "state secret." The journalist faces up to 20 years in prison. So far, Russia has not granted US consular access to Gershkovich. The Kremlin claims the journalist was caught red-handed, but no evidence has been provided. The Wall Street Journal denies the accusations, the US State Department found that Gershkovich was wrongfully detained, which opens up the possibility for the US to negotiate on his behalf.
Lawyer Ivan Pavlov told The insider that in this way the authorities show that absolutely any journalist, both Russian and foreign, can fall under the article on espionage. Moscow hopes to exchange the “hostage” journalist for a Russian citizen detained on a similar charge, the lawyer stressed. Thus, Gershkovich will replenish Putin's "exchange fund" needed to return the arrested Russian spies. Read more about the practice of taking foreign hostages for subsequent exchange in The Insider : “Catch and exchange. How the FSB hunts for foreigners.
The Insider supports the demands of colleagues – independent media and journalists – to release Gershkovich and also considers the charges against him unfounded.