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Consular access to detained Americans settled, says US ambassador to Russia

The Wall Street Journal noted that regular consular access can be obtained at least to its journalist Evan Gershkovich

NEW YORK, October 27. /TASS/. US Ambassador to Moscow Lynne Tracy said that the situation regarding consular access to US citizens detained in Russia has improved, The Wall Street Journal reported.

"I would say we have settled into a fairly regular rhythm of once a month and fairly good notification about or confirmation of our access being granted," Tracy said, as quoted by The Wall Street Journal.

She said that regular consular access had been provided for at least Evan Gershkovich, a journalist for The Wall Street Journal.

According to the FSB Public Relations Center, Evan Gershkovich, "acting at the behest of the American side, collected information constituting a state secret about the activities of an enterprise within Russia’s military-industrial complex." The reporter was detained in the Urals city of Yekaterinburg in late March. He was charged with espionage under Article 276 of the Russian Criminal Code. If Gershkovich is convicted, he may face up to 20 years in prison. He pleads not guilty.