LONDON/WASHINGTON, (Reuters) – A Moscow court ruled that a U.S. journalist for the Wall Street Journal should be detained for nearly two months on suspicion of spying, the most serious move against a foreign journalist since Russia invaded Ukraine and one quickly condemned by Washington.
Russia’s FSB security service said on Thursday it had opened a criminal case against U.S. national Evan Gershkovich on suspicion of espionage. The Kremlin said he had been “caught red-handed” but presented no documentary or video evidence.
U.S. President Joe Biden’s administration said it was deeply concerned and that officials had been in touch with Gershkovich’s employer and family. Journalist advocacy groups demanded Gershkovich’s release.
The case will worsen already dire relations between Moscow and Washington, both nuclear powers. The U.S. is Ukraine’s biggest military backer as Kyiv battles a Russian invasion and has imposed sanctions on Moscow to try to persuade it to end its invasion of Ukraine.
It is believed to be the first criminal case for espionage against a foreign journalist in post-Soviet Russia, a crime punishable by up to 20 years imprisonment.
The Biden administration strongly urged Americans to avoid travel to Russia and to leave if they were already there.
