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Biden call family of WSJ reporter detained in Russia on spying charges

Earlier in the day, US National Security Council Strategic Communications Coordinator John Kirby said that the US administration is looking at how to have Gershkovich released

NEW YORK, April 11. /TASS/. US President Joe Biden spoke over the phone with the family of Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, who is suspected of espionage in Russia, according to the family’s statement released on Tuesday.

"We appreciate President Biden’s call to us today, assuring us that the U.S. government is doing everything in its power to bring him home as quickly as possible," the statement reads.

Earlier in the day, US National Security Council Strategic Communications Coordinator John Kirby said that the US administration is looking at how to have Gershkovich released.

According to Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB), Gershkovich, acting at the US’ behest, collected information constituting a state secret about the activities of Russian defense companies. The reporter was detained in the Urals city of Yekaterinburg. The FSB Investigative Department opened a criminal case against him under Article 276 of the Russian Criminal Code ("Espionage"). As Peskov emphasized earlier, the journalist was caught red-handed. On March 30, Moscow’s Lefortovo District Court ruled that Gershkovich be held in custody until May 29.