US ambassador to Moscow visits detained WSJ journalist

By Burc Eruygur

ISTANBUL (AA) – US Ambassador to Russia Lynne Tracy visited Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reporter Evan Gershkovich, who was detained by Russian authorities in late March, at the Lefortovo Prison in the capital Moscow.

“Today, #AmbassadorTracy met with Evan Gershkovich at the Lefortovo pre-trial detention center in Moscow. Evan is in good health and remains resilient despite the circumstances,” the US Embassy in Moscow said on Twitter late Monday.

The statement further expressed hope that Russian authorities will provide regular consular access.

Tracy’s visit to Gershkovich is the second such case where Russia has provided consular access, with the previous visit having taken place on April 17.

Moscow previously said that the embassy's requests for consular access were rejected in reaction to Russian journalists being denied US visas to accompany Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov to the United Nations in New York in April.

Gershkovich, who worked as a reporter at the WSJ’s Moscow bureau, was arrested by the Russian Federal Security Service in the city of Yekaterinburg on espionage charges.

US officials have demanded Gershkovich’s immediate release, with Secretary of State Antony Blinken saying he was “wrongfully detained.”

Russian authorities, however, say Gershkovich was caught “red-handed” and that his case will be dealt with according to the law.

Gershkovich's detention was extended in May for another three months until Aug. 30, according to a Moscow court.