Wall Street Journal Reporter Evan Gershkovich Detained In Russia

Evan Gershkovich, a journalist working for the Wall Street Journal, has been residing in Moscow for the past six years. During this time, he has been covering stories related to Russia, Ukraine, and the former Soviet Union. Gershkovich has official accreditation as a journalist from the Russian foreign ministry. In his most recent article published on Tuesday, he discusses the potential decline of Russia’s economy.

Gershkovich’s arrest comes at a time when the Russian government is increasing its suppression of dissent and criticism due to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. The global community has condemned these actions. In September 2022, Russian police detained 1,300 individuals during anti-war protests. These events followed President Vladimir Putin’s announcement of conscripting citizens for the conflict in Ukraine. More recently, a Russian citizen was sentenced to two years in prison because his 13-year-old daughter created pro-Ukrainian art that featured the slogan “Glory to Ukraine.”

Furthermore, Russia is implementing stringent measures on the media. Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, reporting “fake” news about the war or even acknowledging it as a war has become a criminal offense. As a result, many international organizations have suspended their reporting from the country. Those that continue to report face censorship and potential punishment for contradicting the government. Journalists reporting from Ukraine have also faced attacks, with eight journalists being killed in the first six months of the war, according to Reporters Without Borders.

In the past, Russian authorities have made high-profile arrests of American citizens under questionable circumstances. For instance, in February 2022, WNBA player Brittney Griner was arrested, just before Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, after vape cartridges containing a small amount of hashish oil were found in her luggage. Griner pleaded guilty to the drug charges and received a nine-year sentence in a Russian penal colony. This particular case was widely seen as a political maneuver to exert pressure on the United States, which had promised aid to Ukraine. Ultimately, Griner was released in a prisoner exchange involving Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout.

The arrest of Gershkovich is the first instance in over 30 years where a journalist has been detained in Russia on espionage charges. The last known case occurred in 1986 when Nicholas Daniloff, a reporter for U.S. News & World Report, was apprehended by the KGB while working as a correspondent in Moscow. Eventually, he was released as part of a prisoner exchange.