US Urges Russia to Immediately Release WSJ Reporter Gershkovich

The US on Thursday renewed demands that Russia free Wall Street Journal correspondent Evan Gershkovich and another detained American after a Moscow court extended the journalist’s detention.

“The claims against Evan Gershkovich are baseless. Once again, we call for Russia to immediately release Evan and also to release wrongfully detained US citizen Paul Whelan,” a State Department spokesperson said.

Gershkovich had his pre-trial detention extended by three months by a Russian court on Thursday, Interfax reported, on charges of espionage that he denies, according to Reuters.

The Moscow court extended the detention of the Wall Street Journal reporter to Nov. 30 from Aug. 30. Gershkovich was present at the hearing.

Gershkovich was arrested on March 29 in the Urals city of Yekaterinburg on spying charges that carry up to 20 years in prison.