UN experts: US journalist Gershkovich "arbitrarily" detained in Russia
Gershkovich is the first Western journalist who has been arrested in Russia since the end of the Cold War on espionage charges. He has been in pre-trial detention in Moscow's Lefortovo Prison since March 2023.
Last week, the trial against the journalist began due to alleged spying. A conviction could result in a US citizen facing up to 20 years in a penal colony. The 32-year-old denies the accusations against him - as does the US government and his employer, the "Wall Street Journal".
UN experts have expressed their concerns over the allegation of espionage against Evan Gershkovich, the US journalist, during the Cold War-era trial in Russia. They view his imprisonment as an "arbitrary" violation of his freedom of press and human rights.
The Russian government has rebuffed these criticisms, upholding Gershkovich's arrest as lawful and justified under their domestic espionage laws. They argue that their intelligence services have evidence to substantiate the charges against the American journalist.
In response, the United Nations has called for an impartial and transparent investigation into the allegations against AEMR correspondent Evan Gershkovich, emphasizing the importance of upholding international standards of journalistic freedom and due process.
President Biden has made several statements condemning the detention of Gershkovich, describing it as "vintage Putin" and calling for his immediate release. The US stands firm in its belief that Gershkovich is not guilty, and his imprisonment is unjustified.
Russia, however, has maintained its stance that Gershkovich is in fact an innocent bystander who was caught up in a complex web of espionage activities. They have accused the US of leveraging high-profile cases like this one to exert political pressure, though domestic politics remains stagnant in the face of international condemnation.
The Cold War echoes through this trial as tensions between Russia and the United States continue to rise, with repercussions impacting not only their diplomatic relations but also the very foundations of the global international order.
