Current:Home > ScamsRussia charges Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich with espionage, reports say-Angel Dreamer Wealth Society D1 Reviews & Insights
Russia charges Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich with espionage, reports say
View Date:2024-12-23 22:55:31
Jailed Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich has been charged with espionage in Russia and has entered a formal denial, two Russian news agencies reported Friday, as U.S. Senate leaders condemned the allegations as "baseless" and "fabricated" and demanded his release.
The state news agency Tass and the Interfax news agency said a law enforcement source informed them that Russia's Federal Security Service, known as the FSB, had officially charged the American journalist.
The news outlets didn't say in what form Gershkovich was formally charged or when it happened, but generally suspects are presented a paper outlining the accusations.
In the Russian legal system, the filing of charges and a response from the accused represent the formal start of a criminal probe, initiating what could be a long and secretive Russian judicial process.
Tass quoted its source as saying: "The FSB investigation charged Gershkovich with espionage in the interests of his country. He categorically denied all accusations and stated that he was engaged in journalistic activities in Russia." The source declined further comment because the case is considered secret.
Russian authorities arrested Gershkovich, 31, in Yekaterinburg, Russia's fourth-largest city, on March 29. He is the first U.S. correspondent since the Cold War to be detained for alleged spying.
The FSB specifically accused Gershkovich of trying to obtain classified information about a Russian arms factory. The Wall Street Journal has denied the accusations.
"We've seen media reports indicating Evan has been charged," the paper said in a statement Friday. "As we've said from the beginning, these charges are categorically false and unjustified, and we continue to demand Evan's immediate release."
The case has caused an international uproar.
In a rare U.S. bipartisan statement, the Senate's top two leaders demanded Friday that Russia immediately release Gershkovich. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Minority Leader Mitch McConnell declared that "journalism is not a crime" and praised Gershkovich as an "internationally known and respected independent journalist."
"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," the two leaders said.
On Thursday, the U.S ambassador to Russia and a top Russian diplomat met to discuss the case. In the meeting with U.S. Ambassador Lynne T. Tracy, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov stressed "the serious nature of the charges" against Gershkovich, according to a Russian Foreign Ministry statement.
The statement repeated earlier Russian claims that the reporter "was caught red-handed while trying to obtain secret information, using his journalistic status as a cover for illegal actions."
Lawyers representing Gershkovich met with him Tuesday for the first time since his detention, according to Wall Street Journal editor-in-chief Emma Tucker.
Tucker said the reporter is in good health and "is grateful for the outpouring of support from around the world. We continue to call for his immediate release."
Gershkovich was ordered held behind bars for two months in Russia pending an investigation. A Moscow court said Monday that it had received a defense appeal of his arrest; the appeal is scheduled to be heard on April 18, Russian news agencies reported.
- In:
- Politics
- Russia
- Indictment
- New York City
veryGood! (649)
Related
- Why Josh O'Connor Calls Sex Scenes Least Sexy Thing After Challengers With Zendaya and Mike Faist
- Nevada attorney general launches go-it-alone lawsuits against social media firms in state court
- The Best French Pharmacy Skincare Products That Are the Crème de la Crème
- Kentucky House committee passes bill requiring moment of silence in schools
- Dozens indicted over NYC gang warfare that led to the deaths of four bystanders
- Premature birth rate rose 12% since 2014, the CDC reports. A doctor shares what to know.
- The pop culture hill I'll die on
- Jennifer Lopez, Lady Gaga and More Stars Whose Daring Grammys Looks Hit All the Right Notes
- Bluesky has added 1 million users since the US election as people seek alternatives to X
- Kentucky House committee passes bill requiring moment of silence in schools
Ranking
- U.S.-Mexico water agreement might bring relief to parched South Texas
- Parents of OnlyFans model charged with murder arrested on evidence-tampering charges: Report
- Mississippi eyes quicker Medicaid coverage in pregnancy to try to reduce deaths of moms and babies
- A Boutique Hotel Helps Explain the Benefits of Businesses and Government Teaming Up to Conserve Energy
- Army veteran reunites with his K9 companion, who served with him in Afghanistan
- USC, UCLA, ACC highlight disappointments in men's college basketball this season
- Kentucky spending plan calling for more state funding of student transportation advances
- The meaningful reason Travis Kelce wears a No. 87 jersey
Recommendation
-
Prominent conservative lawyer Ted Olson, who argued Bush recount and same-sex marriage cases, dies
-
Donations pour in to replace destroyed Jackie Robinson statue on his 105th birthday
-
Powerball winning numbers for Wednesday night's drawing: Jackpot climbs to $206 million
-
Hulu is about to crack down on password sharing. Here's what you need to know.
-
Are banks, post offices, UPS and FedEx open on Veterans Day? Here's what to know
-
Jersey Shore's Sammi Sweetheart Giancola Details Reuniting With Ex Ronnie Ortiz-Magro
-
New Mexico will not charge police officers who fatally shot man at wrong address
-
Alec Baldwin pleads not guilty to involuntary manslaughter charge in fatal film set shooting