American ambassador to Russia Lynne Tracy was granted entry on Monday to jailed Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, the US State Department stated, within the second such go to since his pre-trial detention in March on espionage prices he denies.
Tracy met with Gershkovich at Lefortovo Prison in Moscow in what was the primary time US Embassy officers have been granted consular entry since April 17, a State Department spokesperson.
“Ambassador Tracy reports that Mr. Gershkovich is in good health and remains strong, despite his circumstances,” the spokesperson added. “We expect Russian authorities to provide continued consular access.”
A Russian decide on June 22 rejected an utility for Gershkovich, 31, to be launched from jail whereas awaiting trial. Tracy after that call accused Russia of conducting “hostage diplomacy.”
Russia has stated Gershkovich was caught attempting to acquire army secrets and techniques whereas on a visit to the Russian metropolis of Yekaterinburg, however has offered no particulars supporting that assertion. The Wall Street Journal denies the allegations.
The State Department repeated the U.S. view that Gershkovich is wrongfully detained and it described the fees in opposition to him baseless. It known as for the speedy launch of Gershkovich and Paul Whelan, a former US Marine serving a 16-year sentence in a Russian penal colony on espionage prices.
The State Department additionally described Whelan, who was detained in Moscow in 2018, as “wrongfully detained.”
Tracy’s assembly with Gershkovich was first reported by the Wall Street Journal.
U.S.-Russian relations are at their lowest level in additional than six a long time following Russia’s February 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
Russia has agreed up to now to high-profile prisoner exchanges with the United States, most just lately final yr when American basketball star Brittney Griner, sentenced in Russia on a drug cost, was exchanged for Viktor Bout, a Russian arms trafficker convicted within the United States.
Russia has stated there may very well be no trade in Gershkovich’s case till a verdict is reached in his case. No date has to date been introduced for his trial. — Reuters
Source: www.gmanetwork.com
