A Russian court has extended the pre-trial detention of Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich until at least June 30. Gershkovich was arrested in March 2023 by Russia’s Federal Security Service while on a reporting trip to Yekaterinburg and has been held in Moscow’s Lefortovo prison since then.
The Wall Street Journal's Editor-in-Chief, Emma Tucker, expressed optimism about his eventual release, acknowledging the complexities involved in the process.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has stated that Gershkovich's detention was wrongful, condemning Russia's repression of independent voices.
Gershkovich is one of several high-profile U.S. citizens or dual nationals currently detained in Russia, including Marine veteran Paul Whelan and journalist Alsu Kurmasheva. Despite international pressure, Russia has not allowed consular access to detainees like Kurmasheva, raising concerns about their treatment and due process.