WASHINGTON — US Ambassador to Russia Lynne Tracy saw American Evan Gershkovich on Monday, the second visit by Biden administration officials since the Wall Street Journal reporter was arrested in March.
US consular officials, including Tracy, were last able to see Gershkovich on April 17, about two weeks after he was arrested by Russian government officials. Tracy’s visit comes just a week after a Moscow court ruled that Gershkovich must remain in jail until August 30.
“Ambassador Tracy reports that Mr. Gershkovich is in good health and remains strong, despite his circumstances,” a State Department spokesperson told NBC News. “U.S. Embassy officials will continue to provide all appropriate support to Mr. Gershkovich and his family, and we look forward to continued consular access from Russian authorities.”
The department’s spokesman called on the Russian Federation to release Gershkovich and reiterated that the charges against the WSJ reporter are baseless.
“We also call for the immediate release of Paul Whelan,” the spokesman added. “Mr. Whelan has been wrongfully detained in Russia for over 4 years. Both men deserve to go home to their families now.”
Gershkovich is being held in Moscow’s Lefortovo prison and was first detained on March 30 on suspicion of “spying in the interests of the US government,” Russia’s Federal Security Service said in a statement reported by Russian state media. Russian authorities have not offered any evidence to support the charges.
During an interview with NBC’s Tom Llamas last week, Roger Carstens, the presidential special envoy for hostage affairs, said it “remains to be seen” how recent events in Russia involving the Wagner mercenary group and Russian President Vladimir Putin affect the Gershkovich case.
“If there’s one surprise I’ve had in this business in three and a half years of doing this job, it’s that the opposing side is always willing to talk to us almost no matter the tension. And there have been times when we’ve been at odds with Russia, and yet we’ve been able to get a pitch from Trevor Reid and Brittney Griner,” Carstens said during a panel discussion at the Aspen Ideas Festival. “So I think even though Wagner’s group could introduce some chaos and ambiguity into the system, I think we’ll still find a way to have this conversation and bring Evan home.”
Carstens said he believes Gershkovich’s case will likely progress “in the vein that we saw with Brittney Griner, Trevor Reed and Paul Whelan.”
The Biden administration secured the release of Reed and Griner last year from Russia.
