US Ambassador to Russia Lynne Tracy.

US Ambassador to Russia Lynn Tracy visited Wall Street Journal correspondent Evan Gershkovich, detained in Russia for alleged espionage, in protective custody at Lefortovo in the Russian capital, the diplomatic legation reported.

“Today I visited Evan Gershkovich in Lefortovo prison, this is the first time we have had access to him since his illegal detention more than two weeks ago”Tracy said in a post on the US Embassy’s Twitter account.

The diplomat added that the journalist feels good and “stays strong”.

“We reiterate our call for their immediate release”he concluded.

Russia admitted last week that it had not yet allowed US diplomats in Moscow to visit Gershkovich in prison, saying the request was under consideration.

FILE PHOTO: Reporter for the US newspaper The Wall Street Journal Evan Gershkovich is pictured in this photo taken in Moscow, Russia, in 2019. The Moscow Times/Handout via REUTERS
FILE PHOTO: Reporter for the US newspaper The Wall Street Journal Evan Gershkovich is pictured in this photo taken in Moscow, Russia, in 2019. The Moscow Times/Handout via REUTERS

The Federal Security Service (FSB, ex-KGB) formally accused the American journalist of spying on the 7.

The reporter’s lawyers have appealed his detention, while dozens of independent Russian journalists have written a letter calling for his release and calling the charge of espionage under article 276 of the penal code a gratuitous charge. 20 years in prison.

The White House and the Wall Street Journal have denied accusations by Russian security forces against their correspondent and demanded his immediate release.

The Russian regime indicated that the American journalist For now, he is out of any possible prisoner exchange with the United States, and he has announced that this will be so until there is a final sentence in a Russian court.

The Kremlin usually uses this type of letter to negotiate an exchange with prisoners imprisoned in the United States, but the Deputy Foreign Minister, Sergei Ryabkovhe told the agency CASS What “A trade will only be considered when there is a court verdict with specific charges.”

FILE PHOTO: Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov attends the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva, Switzerland March 2, 2023. REUTERS/Denis Balibouse
FILE PHOTO: Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov attends the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva, Switzerland March 2, 2023. REUTERS/Denis Balibouse

Thus, he denied that Gershkovich could be put on the same level as fellow American Paul Whelan, who was indeed convicted of espionage by Russian courts.

The Deputy Minister also indicated that any possible negotiation with Washington would be done bilaterally, through the usual channels and without outside mediation: “Third countries have nothing to say here.”

In December, American basketball star Brittney Griner was traded for Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout following his trial and conviction for drug possession. She had been sentenced to nine years in prison and ended up spending 10 months behind bars.

Another American, Michigan corporate security chief Paul Whelan, has been jailed in Russia since December 2018 on espionage charges that his family and the US government have called baseless.

(with EFE, AP and EP information)

Continue reading:

They fled the Soviet Union in 1979 and now their son is being held in Russia: Parents of journalist Evan Gershkovich speak out for the first time
Vladimir Putin’s regime has ruled out a possible exchange for American journalist Evan Gershkovich
Evan Gershkovich loved Russia, the country that turned against him

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