The family of Evan Gershkovich, a Wall Street Journal reporter detained in Russia on espionage charges, has reached out to the United Nations for assistance in securing his release, Reuters reports. Gershkovich's relatives submitted a petition to the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention.
Mikhail Gershkovich, the journalist's father, expressed that the statement sent to the UN underscores the violation of Evan's human rights during his detention and calls for his immediate release, emphasizing their desire for him to return home.
U.S. Ambassador to the UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield condemned the situation, stating that no family should have to witness their loved ones being used as political tools. She accused President Putin of such actions, asserting that Russia's conduct goes beyond cruelty and constitutes a violation of international law.
Evan Gershkovich was arrested in Yekaterinburg in late March on charges of espionage and has been held at the "Lefortovo" detention center since early April. In August, the Lefortovo District Court in Moscow extended his detention until November 30. The Russian Federal Security Service alleges that the reporter collected confidential information about a Russian military-industrial complex enterprise at the behest of the American side.
Gershkovich's activities reportedly included a visit to Nizhny Tagil, where the Uralvagonzavod defense plant is located. Concurrently, a couple from Nizhny Tagil working at Uralvagonzavod was also arrested. Additionally, PR specialist Yaroslav Shirshikov, who initially disclosed Gershkovich's arrest in April, was apprehended. Shirshikov was subsequently released from pretrial detention in June.
In April, the US State Department labeled Gershkovich as "wrongfully detained," signaling an intention to initiate negotiations for his exchange.
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