Prominent lawyers noted that past investigations into espionage cases took a year to 18 months, during which time he may have little contact with the outside world. Gershkovich, who covers Russia, Ukraine and other ex-Soviet nations as a correspondent in the Journal’s Moscow bureau, could face up to 20 years in prison if convicted of espionage. The administration has no “specific indication” that journalists in Russia are being targeted, she said. The State Department was in direct touch with the Russian government and seeking access to Gershkovich, Jean-Pierre said. White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre condemned the arrest “in the strongest terms” and urged Americans to heed government warnings not to travel to Russia. In Washington, the Biden administration said it had spoken with the Journal and Gershkovich’s family. While previous American detainees have been freed in prisoner swaps, a top Russian official said it was too early to talk about any such deal. Daniloff was released without charge 20 days later in a swap for an employee of the Soviet Union’s United Nations mission who was arrested by the FBI, also on spying charges.Īt a hearing Thursday, a Moscow court quickly ruled that Gershkovich would be kept behind bars pending the investigation. News and World Report, was arrested by the KGB. Gershkovich is the first American reporter to be arrested on espionage charges in Russia since September 1986, when Nicholas Daniloff, a Moscow correspondent for U.S. His 13-year-old daughter was sent to an orphanage. Earlier this week, a Russian court convicted a father over social media posts critical of the war and sentenced him to two years in prison.
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