White House Condemns Russian Imprisonment of Wall Street Journal Reporter Evan Gershkovich, Advises US Citizens in Russia to ‘Leave Immediately’

The White House issued a statement “strongly condemning” the Russian detention of Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich and reiterating the State Department’s warnings that US citizens living or traveling in Russia should “depart immediately”.

“We are deeply concerned about the disturbing reports that Evan Gershkovich, an American citizen, has been arrested in Russia,” White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said in the statement. She went on to say that White House and State Department officials have spoken with Wall Street Journal officials and have been in contact with Gershkovich’s family.

“Furthermore, the State Department has been in direct contact with the Russian government regarding this matter, including actively working to obtain consular access to Mr. Gershkovich,” the statement read.

The statement – read it in full below – also said the Russian government’s “attacks on American citizens” were “unacceptable”. Jean-Pierre also reiterated the US government’s warning that Americans should not travel to Russia.

“US citizens living or traveling in Russia should leave Russia immediately, as the State Department continues to recommend,” the statement said.

The Moscow-based reporter’s detention is believed to be the first such detention of an American journalist since the Cold War era and the fall of the Soviet Union. Russian authorities have charged Gershkovich with espionage, a claim denied by the Wall Street Journal.

The Wall Street Journal vehemently denies the allegations [Russian Federal Security Service] and calling for the immediate release of our trusted and dedicated reporter, Evan Gershkovich,” the newspaper said in a statement. “We stand in solidarity with Evan and his family.”

According to Russian state news agency Tass, Gershkovich pleaded not guilty to espionage charges. According to the Russian penal code, the correspondent faces up to 20 years in prison. “Espionage trials in the country can last for months and are usually kept secret,” reports the New York Times. “Acquittal is virtually unheard of.”

Jean-Pierre’s full statement is as follows:

We are deeply concerned by the disturbing reports that Evan Gershkovich, an American citizen, has been arrested in Russia.

Last night, officials from the White House and the State Department met with Mr. Gershkovich’s employer, the Wall Street Journal, spoke. The administration also contacted his family. In addition, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs was in direct contact with the Russian government on this matter and actively worked to obtain consular access to Mr. Gershkovich to ensure.

The Russian government’s attack on American citizens is unacceptable. We condemn in the strongest possible terms the detention of Mr. Gershkovich.

We also condemn the Russian government’s ongoing attacks and repression of journalists and freedom of the press.

I would like to reiterate that Americans should heed the US government’s warning not to travel to Russia. US citizens living or traveling in Russia should leave the country immediately, the State Department continues to say.