RUSSIA: AN AMERICAN JOURNALIST OF THE WALL STREET JOURNAL OFFICIALLY CHARGED WITH “SPYING”, WASHINGTON DEMANDS HIS RELEASE
US journalist Evan Gershkovich, arrested in Russia last week, was formally charged with “espionage” on Friday, a charge he denies, Russian news agencies reported.
According to Interfax, Mr. Gershkovich, a Wall Street Journal correspondent who also worked for AFP in the past, is being prosecuted on the basis of article 276 of the Russian criminal code, a charge punishable by 20 years in prison. The Tass news agency reported that the journalist “categorically” denied the charges once morest him.
Immediately and with one voice, the Democratic and Republican leaders of the US Senate on Friday urged the “immediate” release of journalist Evan Gershkovich. “We strongly condemn the arbitrary detention of this American citizen and Wall Street Journal reporter,” Democrat Chuck Schumer and Republican Mitch McConnell wrote in a rare joint statement.
The two tenors of Congress demanded the “immediate release of this independent journalist, respected throughout the world”.
