Please check your email to access the content. The ambassador to Russia said on Wednesday that Evan Gershkovich remained in good health and spirits despite the fact that he was still being held on espionage charges. The Russian court rejected Gershkovich's appeal on Tuesday and he will remain at the Lefortovo Prison in Moscow until at least March 30. He was arrested in March of 2023 and accused of espionage after reporting in Yekaterinburg, the fourth-largest city in Russia. The ambassador condemned the Kremlin's attempts to corrupt the truth after visiting Gershkovich. The charges against Evan are baseless, and we call on the Russian Federation to immediately release him.
Tracy said that the journalist is in good health and is in good spirits despite his circumstances. The ambassador called for the release of Paul Whelan, a corporate security executive from Michigan who has been jailed in Russia since he was arrested on espionage charges in December of last year. The Wall Street Journal reporter is in Russia for 300 days.
Tracy said that both men deserved to go home after more than four years in Russia. In a recent interview, Putin suggested that Gershkovich could be released through an exchange with the U.S. I think an agreement can be reached.