MOSCOW — The U.S. ambassador to Russia mentioned Monday that she was capable of go to the Wall Street Journal reporter who was detained greater than two weeks in the past on prices of espionage.
Ambassador Lynne Tracy mentioned that she visited Evan Gershkovich in Moscow’s Lefortovo Prison, infamous for harsh circumstances, and “he is in good health and remains strong.”
It was “the first time we’ve been permitted access to him since his wrongful detention more than two weeks ago,” she mentioned on Twitter. “We reiterate our call for his immediate release.”
Gershkovich, 31, his employer and the U.S. authorities all deny he was concerned in spying.
Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov mentioned final week {that a} potential prisoner trade for Gershkovich might happen, however solely after his trial is accomplished. No date has been set for that.
It’s not clear how lengthy the investigation might final, however different espionage instances have lasted for a yr or extra.
In December, American basketball star Brittney Griner was exchanged for Russian arms vendor Viktor Bout following her trial and conviction on drug possession prices. She had been sentenced to 9 years in jail and ended up spending 10 months behind bars.
Another American, Michigan company safety government Paul Whelan, has been imprisoned in Russia since December 2018 on espionage prices that his household and the U.S. authorities have referred to as baseless.
Gershkovich might resist 20 years in jail if convicted.
Russia’s Federal Security Service arrested Gershkovich in Yekaterinburg, Russia’s fourth-largest metropolis, on March 29. He is the primary U.S. correspondent because the Cold War to be detained in Russia for alleged spying.
The service accuses Gershkovich of making an attempt to acquire categorised details about a Russian arms manufacturing unit.
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