The Wall Street Journal has appealed to end the pretrial detention of its journalist, Evan Gershkovich, who remains in Russian custody on espionage charges. Despite the appeal, a Russian court has ruled that Gershkovich will stay in detention until late June.
Gershkovich, 32, was detained in March 2022 while on a reporting trip to Russia. His arrest has been widely criticized by international organizations, including the U.S. government and press freedom groups, who say he is being wrongfully detained.
During a court appearance on Tuesday, Gershkovich appeared relaxed and engaged with his legal team. The Wall Street Journal has called attention to the anniversary of Gershkovich’s detention by leaving a blank space on the front page of its print edition. In a letter published on the same day, the Journal’s editor-in-chief, Emma Tucker, urged Gershkovich’s release and highlighted the dangers faced by journalists worldwide.
President Biden also released a statement on the anniversary of Gershkovich’s detention, condemning it as ‘wholly unjust and illegal’ and pledging to continue working for his release. Gershkovich himself has expressed hope and determination, writing in a letter to his family from prison, ‘I am not losing hope.’
The ongoing detention of Evan Gershkovich underscores the importance of press freedom and the challenges faced by journalists in certain parts of the world. The international community must continue to demand his release and support the efforts to ensure that journalists can safely and freely report on important issues.