Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer and his Republican rival, Mitch McConnell, issued a joint assertion Friday condemning the arrest and “wrongful detention” of U.S. journalist Evan Gershkovich in Russia.
Mr. Gershkovich, who reported on the Russian financial system for The Wall Street Journal, was arrested final month and charged with espionage.
“Since his arrest, Russian authorities have failed to present any credible evidence to justify their fabricated charges,” Mr. Schumer, New York Democrat, and Mr. McConnell, Kentucky Republican, stated.
The leaders, who often spar on different issues, stated Mr. Gershkovich was accredited by the Russian authorities to report within the nation.
“Moreover, against standard diplomatic practice and likely in violation of international law, the U.S. Embassy has been denied consular access to Mr. Gershkovich,” the leaders stated. “Russia has a long and disturbing history of unjustly detaining U.S. citizens in a judicial system that provides neither transparency nor justice.”
The White House stated releasing the 31-year-old American is a high precedence for President Biden and the State Department.
The administration used a prisoner swap to free U.S. basketball participant Brittney Griner final yr in opposition to the backdrop of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, although one other U.S. detainee — Paul Whelan — continues to be in a Russian jail. The U.S. fears that Russian President Vladimir Putin is utilizing Americans as diplomatic leverage.
Mr. Schumer and Mr. McConnell referred to as on Russia to launch Mr. Whelan and Mr. Gershkovich. The senators stated the newest arrest is an assault on the free press.
“Let there be no mistake: Journalism is not a crime,” they stated. “We demand the baseless, fabricated charges against Mr. Gershkovich be dropped and he be immediately released and reiterate our condemnation of the Russian government’s continued attempts to intimidate, repress and punish independent journalists and civil society voices.”
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