Russia: US stance on arrested journalist inappropriate

Russia: US stance on arrested journalist inappropriate

AB Productions | Source: AP

Moscow

The US considers freeing the American journalist Ivan Gershkovich arrested in Russia a priority, but that is irrelevant to Russia. The Russian Deputy Foreign Minister says there will be no change in the matter, state news agency TAS reported.

The United States has officially labeled Gershkovich as “unjustly” detained, meaning his release is a priority for the government. “Russia will not tolerate any attempt to put pressure on us,” Deputy Minister Sergei Ryabkov said.

The journalist does not yet have access to US consular assistance. Russia is considering giving him that access, Ryabkov told TASS. The American citizen has had minimal contact with his legal team since his arrest two weeks ago. The Wall Street Journal journalist was prosecuted for espionage, but as far as America was concerned he was doing journalistic work in Russia. He gets twenty years in prison. Gershkovich remains in custody until at least May 29. A court in Moscow will consider the objection he filed next week.

US President Joe Biden condemned the “absolutely illegal” detention and called for Gershkovich’s release. He spoke to the reporter’s family over phone on Tuesday. In it, the president said, “The United States government is doing everything possible to get him home as soon as possible,” the family said after the conversation.

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