The Kremlin assured Friday that foreign journalists »do not face restrictions» in Russia and stressed that ‘The Wall Street Journal’ reporter Evan Gershkovich, detained Thursday for alleged espionage, »was caught red-handed».
Russian Presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov stressed that foreign journalists »work perfectly» and stressed that »in this case we are talking about activities carried out under the cover of journalism but which are, in essence, espionage activities». The journalist was caught in fragrant and the situation is obvious,» he said, as reported by the Russian newspaper Izvestia.
The journalist had been gathering information about the Wagner Group, owned by oligarch Yevgeni Prigozhin, close to Russian President Vladimir Putin, who has sent mercenaries to Ukraine. Gershkovich’s last article published by ‘The Wall Street Journal’ dates from March 28 under the headline ‘Russia’s economy is starting to crumble’.
Following this, White House spokeswoman Karine Jean-Pierre called it »unacceptable» for the Russian government »to target U.S. citizens». We condemn the Russian government’s continued attacks and repression against journalists and freedom of the press,» she said, while assuring that Washington is in contact with Russian authorities to provide consular assistance to the journalist.
Gershkovich previously worked for the French news agency AFP and the Russian newspaper ‘The Moscow Times’. He has also published in ‘The New York Times’, ‘The Economist’, ‘MIT Technology Review’, ‘Foreign Policy’ and Politico Europe, among other media, according to his website.
Source: (EUROPA PRESS)
