American journalist kidnapped in Russia

 

The American journalist Evan Gershkovich is in trouble in Russia. Russian intelligence accuses him of espionage on behalf of the U.S. government. Gershkovich is a correspondent of The Wall Street Journal in Moscow, and was in the city of Yekaterinburg investigating the Russian economy and the activities of the Wagner mercenary group.

According to the press department of the Russian intelligence services, the FSB aborted the illegal activities of The Wall Street Journal correspondent. According to the Moscow authorities, Gershkovich was collecting secret information on the activities of one of the enterprises of the Russian military industrial complex. The independent Russian media Meduza at least stated this in an article. The situation of the American journalist is delicate. The FSB has opened a criminal case against him for espionage, which could lead to imprisonment for up to 20 years.

Gershkovich was arrested in front of a restaurant in the city of Yekaterinburg. According to local newspaper Vechernie Novosti, a reader witnessed the arrest of a man in the city center. The Wall Street Journal issued a statement expressing its "deep concern for Gershkovich's safety" and "vehemently" denying the allegations. It urged Russia to release the journalist. Meanwhile, the spokeswoman for the Russian diplomacy, Maria Zakharova, assured that thejournalist was "caught red-handed", carrying out activities with "no relation to journalism". Gershkovich has worked as a correspondent for the AFP agency in Moscow and before that for the English-language daily Moscow Times. His status in Russia is uncertain and his future is uncertain. It remains to be seen what will happen to the American journalist in a country that does not have the best relationship with the United States.