Blinken Calls on Russia to Release US Journalist, Ex-Marine Accused of Espionage

The Wall Street Journal journalist Evan Gershkovich (L) is shown in this undated photo. (The Wall Street Journal via AP); Paul Whelan, a former U.S. Marine (R), stands in a cage as he waits for a hearing in a courtroom in Moscow, Russia, on Aug. 23, 2019. Alexander Zemlianichenko/AP Photo

On Sunday, Secretary of State Antony Blinken called for the immediate release of two Americans detained by Russia on espionage charges.

In a statement on April 2, the Department of State announced that Blinken had spoken with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in a rare phone call between the diplomats since the Ukraine war and demanded the release of Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich and former U.S. Marine Paul Whelan.