Russia denies US reporter notified authorities about trip to Yekaterinburg

By Elena Teslova

MOSCOW (AA) - Russia on on Friday denied media reports claiming that US journalist Evan Gershkovich, detained on espionage charges, informed the foreign and defense ministries about his trip to Yekaterinburg.

The Foreign Ministry said on Telegram that foreign journalists do not inform the Russian authorities about their movements in the country.

Sergey Ryabkov, Russia's deputy foreign minister, on Thursday met US Ambassador Lynne Tracy in Moscow to discuss the arrest of Gershkovich, a Wall Street Journalist correspondent detained by Russia's Federal Security Service last week.

The US newspaper "vehemently denies" the allegations, and has demanded his immediate release.

Ryabkov emphasized the seriousness of charges against Gershkovish, saying that he was arrested "red-handed in an attempt to get classified information, using his journalist pass as a cover for illegal activities, qualified as espionage."

"It was also noted that the hype, fanned in the US around this case, which aims to put pressure on the Russian authorities and the court to should decide the fate of Evan Gershkovich, is futile and meaningless," the statement said.

The issue of access to him by representatives of the US mission is being worked out, the ministry added.

The two diplomats also discussed "other problematic issues in bilateral relations," it said.