Russian authorities have arrested Evan Gershkovich, a US journalist with The Wall Street Journal, on charges of spying for the US government.
The Federal Security Service (FSB) accused Gershkovich of gathering state secrets regarding the activities of a Russian military-industrial enterprise. No evidence or details regarding the arrest have been provided, and Gershkovich could face up to 20 years in prison if convicted.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov claimed that Gershkovich was "caught red-handed." The Wall Street Journal "vehemently denies the allegations from the FSB and seeks the immediate release of our trusted and dedicated reporter." The publication has also expressed solidarity with Gershkovich and his family.
Gershkovich is the first journalist from an American outlet to be arrested on espionage charges in Russia since the Cold War. His arrest comes amid heightened tensions between Russia and the US due to Russia's invasion of Ukraine and the Kremlin's ongoing crackdown on free speech.
Tatiana Stanovaya, a nonresident scholar at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, said, "Let's wait to see what the FSB specifically presents, but it appears that they have taken a hostage." She added that the situation "undoubtedly brings Russia and the United States' relationship to a new level of confrontation."
