Russian Foreign Ministry denies US diplomats visit to Evan Gershkovich

The Foreign Ministry of Russia has denied a request from the US diplomats to visit the Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, who is in jail in Russia on “espionage” charges, the agency’s website says.

The decision was made in response to the US refusing to grant visas to Russian journalists who planned to accompany Sergey Lavrov, Russia’s Foreign Minister, in his work trip to NYC for participating in a UN Security Council session.

“We are also working out potential responsive measures, and we’ll inform the American side of them fittingly,” the agency’s statement reads.

Evan Gershkovich was detained in Russia’s Yekaterinburg on 29 March. The journalist was interested to learn more about the attitudes among Russians to the mercenary Wagner Group. Media also reported that Gershkovich had been visiting the city of Nizhny Tagil where the Uralvagonzavod defence industry facility is located. He was sent to Moscow’s Lefortovo pretrial jail the next day.

US Ambassador to Russia Lynne Tracy visited Evan Gershkovich in jail on 17 March. “He is in good health and remains strong. We reiterate our call for his immediate release,” she tweeted.

The Wall Street Journal has issued a statement in support of its employee.

“The Wall Street Journal vehemently denies the allegations from the FSB and seeks the immediate release of our trusted and dedicated reporter, Evan Gershkovich. We stand in solidarity with Evan and his family,” the statement read.

US President Joe Biden and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken also called in Russia to release the reporter.

Bloomberg reported, citing its sources, that Russian President Vladimir Putin had personally approved the arrest and detention of Gershkovich.