Foreign journalists who worked in Russia at different times appealed to Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov with a request to release WSJ correspondent Evan Gershkovich accused of espionage. This is stated in an open letter.
“We all worked in Russia as foreign correspondents, some for a few months, some for decades. We are shocked and appalled by the arrest of our colleague Evan Hershkovich and the charges against him,” the journalists wrote.
They emphasize that Gershkovich has "a great and impressive experience in journalism", and his only goal was to inform readers about contemporary reality in Russia. “Searching for information, even if it goes against political interests, doesn't make Evan a criminal or a spy, it makes him a journalist. Journalism is not a crime,” the letter says.
“The arrest of Evan Gershkovich sends a disturbing and dangerous message about Russia's disregard for independent media and demonstrates indifference to the fate of a young, talented and honest journalist. We call on the Russian authorities to drop these charges and release Evan Gershkovich immediately,” the signatories said.
The letter was signed, in particular, by journalist and writer Oliver Bullough, author of the book "Putin's People" Catherine Belton, journalist Sarah Rainsford, expelled from Moscow in August 2021, correspondents from Reuters, The Guardian, BBC, The New York Times, CNN, AFP, Washington Post and others.
Gershkovich was detained in Yekaterinburg on March 30 on suspicion of espionage and collecting information constituting a "state secret." He was arrested for two months and sent to the Lefortovo pre-trial detention center in Moscow. In Yekaterinburg, the journalist was engaged in preparing material about “Putin’s chef” and the founder of PMC Wagner Yevgeny Prigozhin, and also learned from the people of the Urals how they feel about the war against Ukraine. Gershkovich faces up to 20 years in prison. On April 18, the Moscow City Court upheld his arrest.