WSJ reporter Gershkovich can only be swapped with US after trial: Russia

WSJ reporter Gershkovich can only be swapped with US after trial: Russia

Fast News

The US has designated Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich as “wrongfully detained”, successfully labelling the espionage fees towards him as bogus and political.

Gershkovich was arrested last month after Russia's Federal Security Service accused him of gathering classified information.
Gershkovich was arrested final month after Russia’s Federal Security Service accused him of gathering categorized data.
(Reuters Archive)

Russia has mentioned {that a} doable prisoner swap involving Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich can solely be thought of after he’s placed on trial, regardless of efforts by the United States to push for his launch.

Gershkovich was arrested final month after Russia’s Federal Security Service accused him of gathering categorized details about a navy manufacturing facility, a declare that the WSJ and the United States have rejected as false.

“The question of exchanging anyone can be considered after the court delivers its verdict specifically on this or that charge,” Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov was quoted as saying by the TASS news company on Thursday.

“As for an exchange, we have a special channel for this, the security services deal with it, and they will continue to deal with this matter,” he mentioned.

READ MORE:
Moscow frees US basketball star Griner in swap with Russian arms vendor

‘Wrongfully detained’

Washington’s hostage envoy pledged on Wednesday to do “whatever it takes” to carry residence Gershkovich and ex-Marine Paul Whelan – one other US citizen detained in Russia, urgent Moscow to grant consular entry to the WSJ reporter.

The United States has designated Gershkovich as “wrongfully detained”, successfully labelling the espionage fees as bogus and political.

The Kremlin on Thursday repeated its declare that Gershkovich had been caught “red-handed” and denied a report that President Vladimir Putin personally accredited his arrest.

READ MORE:
Erdogan: Russia, Ukraine swap 200 POWs beneath Türkiye’s mediation

Source: Reuters

Source: www.trtworld.com