A Wall Street Journal reporter was detained in Russia over allegedly attempting to obtain state secrets.
According to Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov, WSJ correspondent Evan Gershkovich was caught “red-handed” by the Federal Security Service (FSB) on Thursday after he supposedly “attempted to receive” secret information regarding a defense facility, in violation of the country’s laws on espionage. Gershkovich, a US citizen with adequate journalistic credentials granted from Russia’s Foreign Ministry, was acting “in the interest of the US government” when he was caught in the city of Ekaterinburg, the FSB explained.
“The Wall Street Journal vehemently denies the allegations from the FSB and seeks the immediate release of our trusted and dedicated reporter, Evan Gershkovich,” the WSJ reacted. The reporter, who routinely covers news from Russia and Ukraine, could face anywhere between 10 to 20 years in prison if convicted of espionage. In the meantime, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova insisted that Gershkovich’s activities prior to his arrest had “nothing to do with journalism,” adding that the West previously tried using the correspondent status as a means to gain classified Russian intelligence.
In a conference call with journalists, Peskov said he doesn’t know the extent of the allegations against Gershkovich, but hopes it doesn’t provoke a retaliatory response from Washington because “we are not talking about allegations here. He was caught in the act.”
Information for this briefing was found via the WSJ, the Associated Press, and the sources mentioned. The author has no securities or affiliations related to the organizations discussed. Not a recommendation to buy or sell. Always do additional research and consult a professional before purchasing a security. The author holds no licenses.
