News Organizations Call for Release of WSJ Reporter

Detained by Russian Authorities

More than three dozen top editors of news organizations around the world signed a letter to the Russian ambassador to the U.S. condemning the detention of Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich and calling for his immediate release.

The editors said in the letter to the ambassador, Anatoly Antonov, that they were deeply concerned about Gershkovich’s detention.

“Gershkovich’s unwarranted and unjust arrest is a significant escalation in your government’s anti-press actions,” the letter said. “Russia is sending the message that journalism within your borders is criminalized and that foreign correspondents seeking to report from Russia do not enjoy the benefits of the rule of law.”

The letter was signed by 38 editors, representing news organizations and journalism groups including The Wall Street Journal, the New York Times, the BBC, the Washington Post, and the Committee to Protect Journalists. CPJ said Friday it coordinated for the letter to be put together.

Gershkovich, a 31-year-old Journal reporter accredited to work in Russia, was arrested on Wednesday for alleged espionage while on a reporting trip to the provincial city of Yekaterinburg, around 800 miles east of Moscow. His arrest was widely condemned by the Biden administration, press-freedom groups and news organizations including the Journal.

The letter called for the Kremlin to give Gershkovich immediate access to a lawyer provided by the Journal and to give confirmation of his well-being. The signees also said he should be allowed to communicate with his family

“Gershkovich is a journalist, not a spy, and should be released immediately and without conditions,” the letter said. “We look forward to your response as we continue to vigilantly follow every step of the proceedings against Evan Gershkovich and call for his immediate release.”