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WSJ, US Embassy call for immediate release of US reporter detained in Russia

Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich was detained in the Russian Urals city of Yekaterinburg in March on espionage charges

NEW YORK, November 28. /TASS/. The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) has once again called for the immediate release of its reporter Evan Gershkovich detained in Russia.

"Evan has now been unjustly imprisoned for nearly 250 days, and every day is a day too long," the newspaper said in a statement following a Moscow court’s ruling that Gershkovich’s detention be extended by two more months. The WSJ slammed the accusations against the reporter as false and described his detention as an "attack on a free press, which is critical for a free society." The Wall Street Journal said it continued to stand with Gershkovich and called for his immediate release.

The US Embassy in Russia, in turn, wrote on X (formerly Twitter) that embassy officials were "deeply concerned" by the court’s decision to extend Gershkovich’s detention and reiterated their call "for his immediate release."

Earlier on Tuesday, Moscow’s Lefortovsky District Court ruled to extend Gerschkovich’s arrest by two months until January 30, 2024.

Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich was detained in the Russian Urals city of Yekaterinburg in March on espionage charges. According to the Federal Security Service (FSB), he acted at the behest of the United States, collecting information constituting a state secret about the activities of Russian defense companies. Criminal charges were filed against him under Article 276 of the Russian Criminal Code ("Espionage"). If found guilty, he may face up to 20 years in prison. Gershkovich pleaded not guilty.

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