I Guess They Didn’t Like the Analysis

Perhaps not coincidentally, the FSB, Russia’s main security agency, has arrested Evan Gershkovich, one of the authors of the article I cited yesterday, for espionage. Daniel Michaels and Vivian Salama report in the Wall Street Journal:

The Biden administration on Thursday condemned the detention of an American Wall Street Journal reporter in Russia for what Moscow described as espionage, the first such case of an American journalist detained for allegations of spying since the Cold War.

The White House said in a statement that the State Department had been in touch with the Russian government concerning the arrest of reporter Evan Gershkovich and that it was communicating with the Journal about his case.

“The targeting of American citizens by the Russian government is unacceptable,” White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said in a statement.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken, in a separate statement, said that the U.S. seeks immediate consular access to Mr. Gershkovich so that it can provide the appropriate support.

“In the strongest possible terms, we condemn the Kremlin’s continued attempts to intimidate, repress, and punish journalists and civil society voices,” Mr. Blinken said.

President Biden was briefed on the detention of Mr. Gershkovich, National Security Council Strategic Coordinator John Kirby told reporters. He reiterated earlier U.S. State Department warnings that Americans are urged to avoid traveling to Russia or to leave immediately.

Russia’s main security agency said Thursday it had detained Mr. Gershkovich in the city of Yekaterinburg, around 800 miles east of Moscow, on Wednesday while on a reporting trip, accusing him of espionage.

“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 Journal said. “We stand in solidarity with Evan and his family.”

Mr. Gershkovich’s detention and charge on the allegation of espionage mean the case is likely to become a high-level diplomatic issue, and is also expected to heighten tensions between Moscow and Washington.

The Federal Security Bureau said Mr. Gershkovich, “acting on the instructions of the American side, collected information constituting a state secret about the activities of one of the enterprises of the Russian military-industrial complex.” Mr. Gershkovich is accredited to work as a journalist in Russia by the country’s foreign ministry.

Authorities took Mr. Gershkovich to Moscow, where he appeared in court with a state-appointed defense attorney and was ordered held in custody until May 29, said the press service of the court, according to state news agency TASS.

I sincerely hope Mr. Gershkovich won’t be used as a pawn in the U. S.-Russia relationship, probably at its lowest point since the old Soviet Union days, but I suspect that’s exactly what will happen.

2 comments… add one
  • CuriousOnlooker Link

    A sad situation. My question is why did the WSJ keep Mr Gershkovich in Russia.

    I read his article and it didn’t contain anything that required him to be in Russia. The stats and quotes from officials are public and likely accessible to anyone who speaks Russian and has internet access. The on the ground interviews could have been done over zoom, telegram, etc.

    The other thing is the article itself; despite its title; the content isn’t earthshaking; the economy isn’t going gangbusters but it isn’t doing poorly either… it’s muddling through.

    It would not shock me if it fits with the downing of the drone a couple of weeks ago – an increasing willingness by Russia to escalate directly against US interests.

  • steve Link

    Why are any Americans still there? Are we going to have to go through this over and over, one by one with Americans who chose to stay there?

    Steve

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