Russia Refuses US Request to Visit Detained Journalist

The Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated on Thursday that it has denied a request from the U.S. Embassy to visit Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, who is detained, on May 11. It noted that the action was taken in response to Washington's refusal to issue visas to "representatives of the media" accompanying Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. Evan Gershkovich was arrested last month and accused by Russia of espionage.