The Wall Street Journal on Friday condemned Russia’s sentencing of its reporter Evan Gershkovich to 16 years in a penal colony, promising to continue to push for his release.
Gershkovich, who was detained in the Russian city of Yekaterinburg in March 2023, has been held since then on espionage charges the United States government and his employer believe are fabricated.
“This disgraceful, sham conviction comes after Evan has spent 478 days in prison, wrongfully detained, away from his family and friends, prevented from reporting, all for doing his job as a journalist,” WSJ publisher Almar Latour and editor-in-chief Emma Tucker said in a statement.
Gershkovich, who pleaded not guilty, became the first journalist in Russia to be charged with spying since the Cold War.
“We will continue to do everything possible to press for Evan’s release and to support his family,” Latour and Tucker said. “Journalism is not a crime, and we will not rest until he’s released.”
The Committee to Protect Journalists advocacy group condemned Gershkovich’s jailing as well.
“Russia’s decision to jail Evan Gershkovich for 16 years on sham charges is outrageous,” CPJ program director Carlos Martinez de la Serna said.
“Journalists are not pawns in geopolitical games. It’s time to stop hostage diplomacy, and free him immediately,” he said.
