Russia Arrests Wall Street Journal Reporter on Espionage Charges

Russian security services announced today, Thursday, the arrest of Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich on charges of espionage. The Federal Security Service stated, "The illegal activity of the accredited reporter for the Moscow office of the Wall Street Journal, American citizen Evan Gershkovich, has been thwarted," indicating that he is suspected of "spying" on behalf of Washington. Furthermore, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova noted on the Telegram app that the activities of the reporter, who was arrested on suspicion of espionage in Yekaterinburg in the Ural region of Russia, "have nothing to do with journalism." In addition, the Russian news agency Interfax reported Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov stating that it is too early to discuss a possible prisoner exchange involving journalist Evan Gershkovich. Ryabkov pointed out that such prisoner exchanges have occurred before for those already convicted, and it is necessary to wait to see how the details of Gershkovich's case unfold.