RIA Novosti source threatens ‘consequences’ for journalist Evan Gershkovich if WSJ continues to publish ‘disinformation’ about Russia

Russia’s state news agency, RIA Novosti, published a message from an “informed source in Moscow,” warning The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) of “consequences” for Evan Gershkovich, a WSJ journalist who was arrested in Russia in March 2023.

“If the Wall Street Journal continues its activities not pertaining to journalism, and publishing disinformation about Russia, it will mean that [WSJ] editors are not interested in the fate of [their correspondent] Evan Gershkovich,” the message reads.

According to the “source,” in recent days the WSJ has put out “a variety of articles with fallacious claims concerning Russia.” The message did not specify which pieces met those criteria.

WSJ correspondent Evan Gershkovich was arrested in late March in Ekaterinburg and charged with espionage. Since early April, he has been in pre-trial detention in Moscow’s Lefortovo prison. On May 23, a Moscow court extended Gershkovich’s arrest by three months.