The State Department announced on April 10 that it has designated Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reporter Evan Gershkovich as “wrongfully detained” in Russia.
The designation will allow the department to allocate more resources toward freeing Gershkovich as the Office of the Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs, led by Roger Carstens, will work to secure Gershkovich’s release.
“Journalism is not a crime. We condemn the Kremlin’s continued repression of independent voices in Russia, and its ongoing war against the truth,” said State Department principal deputy spokesperson Vedant Patel in a statement announcing that Secretary of State Antony Blinken made the designation.
“The U.S. government will provide all appropriate support to Mr. Gershkovich and his family,” he continued. “We call for the Russian Federation to immediately release Mr. Gershkovich.”
“We also call on Russia to release wrongfully detained U.S. citizen Paul Whelan,” added Patel.
Russia detained Gershkovich on March 29 on espionage charges, which The Wall Street Journal denied.
“The actions of the Russian government are completely unjustified.
“Evan is a member of the free press who right up until he was arrested was engaged in newsgathering,” she said. “Any suggestions otherwise are false.
“His sole purpose in his work is to capture issues occurring around the world and to shed light on them so that the public can make informed decisions about how to navigate the future.
“We continue to call for his immediate release. The unjust arrest of one of our own sits heavy with all of us, and I know for many there are lingering questions about what the Russian government’s actions mean for freedom of the press in the region.”
On April 7, the WSJ blasted Gershkovich being reportedly criminally charged in Russia.
“As we’ve said from the beginning, these charges are categorically false and unjustified, and we continue to demand Evan’s immediate release.”
“This distinction will unlock additional resources and attention at the highest levels of the U.S. government in securing his release,” they said.
“We are doing everything in our power to support Evan and his family and will continue working with the State Department and other relevant U.S. officials to push for his release.
“He is a distinguished journalist, and his arrest is an attack on a free press, and it should spur outrage in all free people and governments around the world.”
In a statement on April 11, Gershkovich’s family expressed appreciation for the designation. “We are encouraged that the State Department has officially designated Evan as wrongfully detained,“ they said. ”We appreciate President Biden’s call to us today, assuring us that the U.S. government is doing everything in its power to bring him home as quickly as possible.
“In addition to being a distinguished journalist, Evan is a beloved son and brother. There is a hole in our hearts and in our family that won’t be filled until we are reunited. We are grateful for the outpouring of support from his colleagues, friends and everyone standing with Evan and advocating for his immediate release.”
