Roughly 200 Russian journalists and activists have signed a letter calling for the discharge of a Wall Street Journal detained in Russia on unsubstantiated costs of espionage.

The Federal Security Service, or FSB, arrested Evan Gershkovich final week and stated he was caught red-handed.

“We, independent Russian journalists and representatives of civil society, do not believe these accusations and consider them unfounded,” says the letter dated Tuesday.

Moscow’s determination to detain Mr. Gershkovich, a 31-year-old American who reported on the financial impression of international sanctions on Russia, sparked an outpouring of assist from international journalists and a diplomatic effort to launch him in opposition to the backdrop of the battle in Ukraine.

The journalists’ letter says the Russian authorities manufactured espionage costs to justify a 22-year jail time period for an additional journalist, Ivan Safronov. They consider the federal government detained him due to his work, and the sample is enjoying out once more.

“We consider the case against Gershkovich preposterous and unjust. Evan Gershkovich’s reputation as a reporter is stellar, and his work has always met the highest journalistic standards,” the letter says. “The FSB’s reputation, on the contrary, has been destroyed over the years by its own agents. There is no reason for society to trust these ‘professionals.’”

The White House used a prisoner swap to get U.S. basketball star Brittney Griner out of the U.S. final 12 months.

It is weighing its choices to assist Mr. Gershkovich, whose state of affairs sparked main headlines final week however was drowned out for days by former President Donald Trump’s indictment and reserving in New York.

The State Department summoned the Russian ambassador to the U.S. for a March 30 assembly over Mr. Gershkovich’s case.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken says there isn't a doubt that Mr. Gershkovich was wrongfully detained and that he must be launched instantly.

Speaking out in opposition to Russian President Vladimir Putin’s battle effort is punishable by as much as 15 years in jail, so talking out will be harmful for Russian journalists. Many of the reporters who signed the letter work outdoors of their homeland.

“We, independent Russian journalists and representatives of civil society, support our foreign colleagues who take upon themselves the great risks of working in Russia,” the letter says. “We demand that our colleague Evan Gershkovich be set free immediately.”

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