WASHINGTON: The arrest of American journalist Evan Gershkovich on espionage charges by the Russian government has been strongly condemned by the Democratic and Republican leaders of the US Senate.
In a rare joint statement, the US Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Republican Leader Mitch McConnell demanded the immediate release of the Wall Street Journal staff reporter, who is being held in Moscow.
The charges against Gershkovich, who previously worked for AFP in Russia, have been called baseless and fabricated by the US government and his paper. The journalist is accused of spying for the United States, a claim that he vehemently denies. President Joe Biden has also called for his release.
Gershkovich’s arrest is viewed as a serious escalation of the Russian government’s crackdown on the media, which has intensified in recent years.
It comes at a time when Moscow’s relationship with Washington has become increasingly strained due to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
In their joint statement, Schumer and McConnell condemned the Russian government’s attempts to intimidate, repress, and punish independent journalists and civil society voices.
They also emphasized that journalism is not a crime and reiterated their demand for Gershkovich’s release.
Outrage over US journalist’s detention
The arrest of Gershkovich has sparked outrage among journalists and human rights groups worldwide.
The Committee to Protect Journalists has called on Russian authorities to drop the charges against him and release him immediately.
The detention of Gershkovich is the latest in a series of attacks on journalists in Russia, where press freedom has been increasingly curtailed in recent years.
Human rights groups have criticized the Russian government’s treatment of journalists and activists, accusing it of using anti-terrorism and anti-extremism laws to silence dissent.
The international community is closely watching the case of Gershkovich, concerned about the erosion of press freedom in Russia and the growing threat to journalists worldwide.
