According to Moscow, the fact that a journalist arrested in Russia wants to be released quickly is “irrelevant” | Abroad

The ‘Wall Street Journal’ journalist Evan Gershkovic (31) has been officially labeled by the US as someone who is being held “wrongly”, which means that his release is a priority for the government. Deputy Minister Sergey Ryabkov says that Russia “will not tolerate any attempt to put us under pressure”.

The journalist has not had access to US consular assistance since his arrest two weeks ago. Russia is considering giving him that access, Ryabkov told TASS. The US citizen has also had minimal contact with his legal team so far.

US President Joe Biden has repeatedly condemned Gershkovich’s “totally illegal” detention and called for his release. Biden spoke to the journalist’s family by phone yesterday. In it, the president said that the “U.S. government is doing everything it can to get him home as soon as possible,” the family said after the conversation.

Gershkovic is being prosecuted by Russia for espionage. The Russian security service suspects him of collecting alleged state secrets about the Russian military-industrial complex. But according to the US, he was simply doing journalistic work in the country. Gershkovich himself also “categorically” denies the espionage allegation. He previously explained in court in Russia that he worked as a journalist.

Gershkovich is the first American journalist to be arrested in Russia for espionage since the fall of the Soviet Union. The American risks up to 20 years in prison. For the time being, he will remain in custody until at least May 29. A court in Moscow will consider his objection next week.