Russia extends detention of US journalist

Russia extends detention of US journalist Evan Gershkovich by 3 months

Feeling both pride and pain. The parents of Evan Goshko are speaking publicly about their son, Languishing in *** Russian jail and facing *** possible sentence of 20 years in prison. I feel that I failed in some way as *** father totally crushing that experience all came back from the Soviet Union. The Skoch parents are Soviet Jewish immigrants who came to the US in 1979 Evan and his sister grew up speaking Russian. When Goshko decided to move there as *** journalist, his parents knew there was little they could do. I couldn't have stopped him when he was 15, let alone little Gko bounced around different media outlets landing at the Wall Street Journal just before Russia invaded Ukraine and started to crack down on journalists. Many of whom left, I know that he felt like it was his duty to report and he loved the Russian people. You know, he still does. He no longer is Russia fighting Ukraine Gkos pieces were well reported, often shining *** light on the Putin regime like this one in December on the Kremlin inner circle which made his family nervous. I think when that article came out about Putin in December. Uh got me worried *** lot like my mood was changing. Late last month, Gko was arrested on *** reporting trip to the central city of Yin. The internal security service, the FSB quickly accused him of espionage. The US government has declared it *** wrongful detention. The attorney general said today and an attack on press freedom, the United States will do everything in its power to get the reporter back other Americans who were recently held by Russia and the family of Paul Whelan who still is, have been vocal in their support, taking *** journalist that kind of puts it into perspective for you. How desperate the Russians have become. Next week. *** Moscow court will hear an appeal by the Wall Street Journal's lawyers against Goshko Vic's detention. His parents are hopeful but know all too well, the reality of Russia's judicial system. It's what's one of the American qualities that we absorbed. Be optimistic, believe in happy happy ending. That's, uh, where we stand right now. But I'm not stupid. I understand what's involved, but that's what I choose to believe.

Russia extends detention of US journalist Evan Gershkovich by 3 months

A Russian court on Tuesday extended the arrest of Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich by three months in a closed-door hearing emblematic of the secrecy that has marked the case against the first U.S. correspondent since the Cold War to be detained in Russia on spying charges.Gershkovich, a 31-year-old American citizen, was ordered held until Aug. 30. He had been arrested in March on espionage charges on a reporting trip in Russia. He, his employer and the U.S. government have denied the charges.Tuesday’s pre-trial hearing wasn’t announced in advance, and the entire case has been wrapped in secrecy.Russian authorities haven’t detailed what �� if any �� evidence they have gathered to support the espionage charges.Various legal proceedings have been closed to the media. No details immediately emerged about whether Gershkovich attended Tuesday's hearing or what was said. Tass said the session was closed because the reporter was accused of possession of “secret materials.”The Wall Street Journal reported Tuesday night that Gershkovich’s parents, Soviet emigres living in New Jersey, were visiting Moscow and saw their son during the short hearing.“I don’t know how to describe this happiness and this sadness at the same time,�� the newspaper quoted the reporter's mother, Ella Milman, as saying. She said Gershkovich looked relaxed and well, and that they communicated through smiles.The U.S. State Department said at least one U.S. Embassy official also attended the hearing. Gershkovich's arrest has rattled journalists in the country and drawn outrage in the West.The U.S. government has declared Gershkovich to be “wrongfully detained�� and demanded his immediate release. He’s being held in Moscow’s Lefortovo prison.U.S. Embassy officials were allowed to visit Gershkovich once in prison since his arrest in Yekaterinburg on March 29, but Russian authorities have denied two more recent requests to see him.State Department spokesman Matthew Miller told reporters in Washington, “We once again call on Russia to comply with their obligation to provide consular access to him.�� He added that the charges against Gershkovich "are baseless and we continue to call for his immediate release as well as for the immediate release of Paul Whelan.”Whelan, a Michigan corporate security executive, is serving a 16-year espionage sentence in a remote Russian prison. The retired U.S. Marine was detained in 2018. Whelan and Washington deny he spied in Russia.The Biden administration had hoped to secure Whelan’s release during negotiations on a prisoner exchange that eventually freed American basketball star Brittney Griner from a Russian prison last December.Analysts have pointed out that Moscow may be using jailed Americans as bargaining chips in soaring U.S.-Russian tensions over the Kremlin’s military operation in Ukraine.In a statement after Tuesday's hearing, the Wall Street Journal said: “While we expected there would be no change to Evan's wrongful detention, we are deeply disappointed. The accusations are demonstrably false, and we continue to demand his immediate release.��

A Russian court on Tuesday extended the arrest of Evan Gershkovich by three months in a closed-door hearing emblematic of the secrecy that has marked the case against the first U.S. correspondent since the Cold War to be detained in Russia on spying charges.

Gershkovich, a 31-year-old American citizen, was ordered held until Aug. 30. He had been arrested in March on espionage charges on a reporting trip in Russia. He, his employer and the U.S. government have denied the charges.

Tuesday’s pre-trial hearing wasn’t announced in advance, and the entire case has been wrapped in secrecy.

Russian authorities haven’t detailed what �� if any �� evidence they have gathered to support the espionage charges.

Various legal proceedings have been closed to the media. No details immediately emerged about whether Gershkovich attended Tuesday's hearing or what was said. Tass said the session was closed because the reporter was accused of possession of “secret materials.��

The Wall Street Journal reported Tuesday night that Gershkovich’s parents, Soviet emigres living in New Jersey, were visiting Moscow and saw their son during the short hearing.

“I don’t know how to describe this happiness and this sadness at the same time,�� the newspaper quoted the reporter's mother, Ella Milman, as saying. She said Gershkovich looked relaxed and well, and that they communicated through smiles.

The U.S. State Department said at least one U.S. Embassy official also attended the hearing.

Gershkovich's arrest has rattled journalists in the country and drawn outrage in the West.

The U.S. government has declared Gershkovich to be and demanded his immediate release. He’s being held in Moscow’s Lefortovo prison.

U.S. Embassy officials were allowed to visit Gershkovich once in prison since his arrest in Yekaterinburg on March 29, but Russian authorities have denied two more recent requests to see him.

State Department spokesman Matthew Miller told reporters in Washington, “We once again call on Russia to comply with their obligation to provide consular access to him.�� He added that the charges against Gershkovich "are baseless and we continue to call for his immediate release as well as for the immediate release of Paul Whelan.��

Whelan, a Michigan corporate security executive, is serving a 16-year espionage sentence in a remote Russian prison. The retired U.S. Marine was detained in 2018. Whelan and Washington deny he spied in Russia.

The Biden administration had hoped to secure Whelan’s release during negotiations on a prisoner exchange that eventually freed American basketball star Brittney Griner from a Russian prison last December.

Analysts have pointed out that Moscow may be using jailed Americans as bargaining chips in soaring U.S.-Russian tensions over the Kremlin’s military operation in Ukraine.

In a statement after Tuesday's hearing, the Wall Street Journal said: “While we expected there would be no change to Evan's wrongful detention, we are deeply disappointed. The accusations are demonstrably false, and we continue to demand his immediate release.��

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Russia extends detention of US journalist Evan Gershkovich by 3 months

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