The Russian state news agency “RIA Novosti” has published a statement from an “informant in Moscow”. He threatens the American newspaper “The Wall Street Journal”: if the newspaper continues to report badly about Russia, the American reporter Evan Gershkovich, who is in Russian custody, would have to pay for it.
“If The Wall Street Journal continues to engage in activities unrelated to journalism and continues to spread false information about Russia, it means that its editors are not at all interested in Gershkovich’s fate,” the letter reads.
information war
According to the informant, the well-known American newspaper has published a series of articles in recent days spreading false claims about Russia. It was not specified which publications were involved.
However, this may have consequences for the entire war reporting. Because in Russia, as is well known, the war in Ukraine cannot even be described as such – apart from the absurd distortions and disinformation that the Kremlin pulls out every day.
In late March, correspondent Evan Gershkovich was arrested by the Russian secret service FSB in the Urals city of Yekaterinburg, the first American journalist since the Cold War to be charged with espionage. The 32-year-old denies the allegations.
20 years in prison
He is currently in custody and faces up to 20 years in prison if convicted. The case provides enough fuel for already badly damaged relations between Washington and Moscow. However, Russia does not want to dismiss the claim that Gershkovich was caught spying for the US government. He was “caught in the act,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said. But he wouldn’t give details.
“Journalism is not a crime. He must be released immediately,” US National Security Council spokesman John Kirby told CNN. US President Joe Biden called the allegations illegal. In the US, Gershkovich is considered “unjustly imprisoned”. That means they will try to bring him back to the United States through an exchange.
Source: Krone
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