The US Ambassador to the Russian Federation met with journalist Evan Gershkovich, accused of espionage.

US Ambassador to Russia Lynn Tracy met with journalist Evan Gershkovich accused of espionage. This is reported by The Wall Street Journal, where Gershkovich works.

Information about this RIA Novosti was also confirmed by the US Embassy. This is the first visit by a US ambassador to a journalist since April.

In April and May, the Russian government denied Gershkovich's request for consular access, in response to which the US denied visas to Russian journalists wishing to visit New York as part of a delegation from Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.

On June 22, the Moscow City Court dismissed an appeal against the measure of restraint for the Wall Street Journal journalist Evan Gershkovich accused of espionage. He will remain in jail until the end of August.

Gershkovich was detained on March 29 in Yekaterinburg. According to media reports, the journalist was interested in the attitude of Russians to PMC Wagner and visited Nizhny Tagil, where the production of Uralvagonzavod is located. The day after his arrest, he was sent to the Lefortovo pre-trial detention center in Moscow.

On April 17, representatives of the US Foreign Ministry were able to visit him for the first time.

Earlier, the US State Department officially recognized Gershkovich as "wrongfully detained." This status opens the way to negotiations on its exchange. In addition, US President Joe Biden and US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken have already called for Gershkovich's release.

Bloomberg wrote , citing sources, that Vladimir Putin personally approved the detention and arrest of the journalist.