U.S. Journalist Detained In Russia On Spying Charges

(TotalConservative.com) – A Wall Street Journal writer and alleged intelligence asset was arrested in Russia following allegations he was spying for the West. Evan Gershkovich is a U.S. correspondent who was detained in the Russian city of Yekaterinburg on espionage allegations, this marks the first time since the Cold War that a U.S. correspondent has been arrested on spying charges. He is also a U.S. citizen.

The timing couldn’t have been worse for Gershkovich, as tensions between the U.S. and Russia are stretched thin due to the ongoing Ukrainian War. The most recent similar arrest was in 1986 when Nicholas Daniloff, who was a correspondent for U.S. News and World Report, was picked up by the KGB. Thankfully his release came 20 days later thanks to a prisoner swap.

Charges of espionage carry a potential maximum of 20 years in prison if convicted in Russia. The FSB acknowledged he was an accredited journalist with the Russian Foreign Ministry, however, ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova suggested his activities were not related to his professional activity and in fact, he had used his credentials as cover.

The Russian Federal Security Service said he was trying to acquire classified information. The FSB went further claiming that his collection of classified information was ordered by the U.S. and that he was specifically trying to dig into the role of one of their military industrial parks.

The Wall Street Journal immediately denied the allegations and is pushing for the immediate release of Gershkovich. Their statement on the subject said they’re standing “in solidarity with Evan and his family.”

His most recent work focused on the Russian economy where he suggested Western sanctions were contributing to a slump, a popular Western talking point that Moscow strenuously denies. His arrest follows on the heels of the arrest, detainment, and eventual release of Britney Griner, an American basketball player who was detained on smuggling charges related to her possession of a marijuana vape pen.

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