Russia Detains Wall Street Journal Reporter Ivan Gershkovitch: “He’s an American Spy”. Newspaper: “Very worried”

He is accused of to spy And now he is locked in a Russian prison. the Wall Street Journal And “deeply concerned” about the fate of its correspondent Ivan Gershkovich Which, according to a Federation Homeland Security Services report (fsb) cited user interfacewas discontinued because “illegal activities” that was happening in the country. Journalist accredited to the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs to spy to benefit from US governmentAlso, according to Russian intelligence, Gershkovich was picked up Information covered by “state secrets” on the activities of a company Russian military-industrial complexAnd that’s why he takes risks 20 years in prison.

A spokeswoman for the Moscow Foreign Ministry also spoke about the matter, Maria Zakharovannouncing through his Telegram profile that “What a reporter Wall Street Journal to Yekaterinburg It has nothing to do with journalism. Unfortunately, this is not the first time that foreign correspondent status, journalist visa and accreditation have been used by foreigners in our country to cover activities that are not journalism“. the The Kremlinthrough its official spokesperson Dmitry PeskovHe adds that regarding the activities of the reporter, “We are not talking about the suspects, it was caught in the actIt hopes that the United States does not comply Reprisals for arrest. Responds to the accusations of Russian institutions Wall Street Journal Which “vehemently denies the FSB’s allegations and demands immediate release By our trusted and dedicated correspondent, Ivan Gershkovitch. We stand in solidarity with Evan and his family.”

Independent site Medusa, which quotes “Western journalists working in Moscow”, identifies Gershkovitch’s “mistake” in some of the trips he made in the country to areas with a strong military presence (and control). They explain that there is not only the flight to Yekaterinburg, but also A.S Nizhny Tagilanother Russian city where there is a defense industry plant Uralvagonzavod that produce tanks. Local media say that the mediator accompanied the reporter on his travels. Yaroslav Cherchikov. And Cherchikov claims that Gershkovich went to this city to collect information about the attitude of the population towards the conflict in Ukraine and military secrecy. Wagner. Medusa He adds that there are rumors that the security forces stopped a man in the restaurant Bukowski Grill Yekaterinburg and carry with The head is covered with a tunic. According to Chirchikov, this was exactly the American journalist. When the Wagner founder was asked for comment, Yevgeny PrigozhinHe replied in a sarcastic tone: “If you want, I can check torture chamber Back home to see if he was here, but I don’t think I’ve seen him among the dozens of American journalists I keep there.”

The reporter was taken to court Lefortovoin Moscow, where the court, despite the fact that the guy pleaded Not guilty Of the charges, ha Confirmed arrest for at least two months, until May 29th. Speaking to the media, the Russian Deputy Foreign Minister said, Sergey Ryabkovspecify that at present the Gershkovich case is not included in the discussions for a possible Prisoner exchange with us. “I have no information,” he said, “I have nothing to say about that.”

Gershkovitch is a covering reporter RussiaL’Ukraine and the former soviet union For the American Financial Journal. His parents live in the United States but are originally from the former soviet union This is also why the reporter speaks Russian. before hiring in Wall Street Journal He worked at the agency afpfor publication in Russian in English Moscow Times and was a news assistant for the The New York Times. Gershkovich is the first American journalist to be arrested in Russia on espionage charges since cold War. The last case dates back to 1986, when he ended up in handcuffs Nick Danilov: “In my case, the FBI made an arrest on a Soviet one New York The reporter said to Ola CNN He added that negotiations eventually secured his release “with a solution to the man who was arrested in New York.” on time Ronald Reagan He was president of the United States, Russia was part of the Soviet Union and relations were very tense. Danilov was captured at the end of his mission to US news and world reportHe remained in prison for weeks in solitary confinement before the administration negotiated his release.

Photo: Ivan Gershkovitch’s Instagram profile