The Wall Street Journal’s editor-in-chief spoke out against American reporter Evan Gershkovich’s detainment in Russia, Monday, calling the arrest “completely unacceptable.”
Top U.S. officials are facing growing calls to secure the release of the journalist after the longtime reporter was detained and accused of foreign espionage. According to Russian state news agency TASS, Gershkovich will be held in detainment until May 29.
“It’s a total outrage,” Emma Tucker told “Fox & Friends”. “He is an accredited journalist. He had a visa. He had accreditation from the Russian government. He was out doing his job, and it’s completely unacceptable for journalists to not be able to operate safely.”
Russian officials said Gershovich was arrested for “trying to obtain secret information” related to “the enterprises of the Russian military-industrial complex.”
President Biden demanded Russia release the veteran journalist last week during a press gaggle outside the White House, but also noted there was a “process” involved in doing so.
“Let him go,” the president said of Gershovich’s arrest.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken reportedly spoke with his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov over the weekend, urging officials to release the journalist immediately.
Since Gershkovich’s arrest, The Wall Street Journal pulled its Moscow bureau chief out of Russia. Tucker noted there is a plan in place for others connected to the publication that are still in the country.
She commended the State Department for its efforts to secure the journalist’s release.
“Every level of government has got… behind this,” Tucker said. “We’ll see where things happen next. We’re hoping that they will label him as being wrongfully detained sooner rather than later, because I think when that happens, things could move more swiftly.”
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