Russian InvasionGripne WSJ Reporter

Kremlin in Moscow. Mikhail Metzel / AP  

Russian InvasionGripne WSJ Reporter  

Correspondents in Moscow: "Evan was just doing his job" 

Notable journalists from The Guardian, Washington Post, Financial Times, The Telegraph and Politico are expressing their support on Twitter for 31-year-old Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, after he was arrested in Yekaterinburg, Russia. 

“He was just doing his job. Journalism is not a crime. Russia should release him immediately," writes Max Seddon, Russia director at the Financial Times.  

Both The Telegraph's and Politico's correspondents in Russia - Natliya Vasilyeva and Eva Hartog - have met Evan Gershkovich on the job: 

"I've known Evan since his first day in Russia many years ago and this is complete bullshit," Hartog writes. "He was so excited about his new job and the chance to take advantage of his Russian heritage and tell the world what this country is really like," writes Vasilyeva.  

Swedish foreign reporters also react. SR's Russia correspondent Marie Persson Löfgren draws attention to the incident and TV4's correspondent in Berlin, Jona Källgren, believes that the arrest has consequences: 

"That's where independent international coverage of Russia came to an end," Källgren writes.  

Check out more reactions below. 

 

Evan Gershkovich. evangershkovich.com  

The arrest of the WSJ reporter unique after the Cold War - risks 20 years in prison  

That the Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich was arrested in Russia and accused of espionage is unique, AP writes. It is the first time since the Cold War that this has happened to a journalist who is employed by an American media company.  

The Russian security service FSB alleges that Evan Gershkovich embezzled classified information. He is said to have been arrested in Yekaterinburg in the Ural Mountains. His last articles before his arrest were about how Western sanctions are affecting Russia's economy.  

Politico writes that the Russian authorities' view of independent media has hardened, but that despite this, it is the first time in just over a year that a foreign journalist has been arrested in the country.  

The journalist risks 20 years in prison if convicted of espionage. Russia has not presented any evidence for its accusations and international condemnations are strong.  

Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich Alexander Zemlianichenko / AP  

Russian InvasionGripne WSJ Reporter  

FSB: WSJ correspondent detained for two months 

Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich has been detained for two months, the paper reports with reference to the Russian security service FSB.  

The 31-year-old journalist is an American citizen and covers Russia, Ukraine and the former Soviet Union for the newspaper. According to Russian state Tass, Gershkovich's lawyer was not allowed to attend the court.  

The FSB accuses him of spying on behalf of the United States, which both he and the WSJ deny. Gershkovich is said to have worked on an audit of the paramilitary Wagner group.