The Wall Street Journal poked a hole in the cover of Friday’s print edition to commemorate the one-year anniversary of reporter Evan Gershkovich’s capture in Russia.
The front page of a newspaper is mostly occupied by blank space and the headline “Here’s His Story.”
Gershkovych, a Russia-based reporter for the paper, was detained during a reporting trip in Yekaterinburg. Gershkovitch was charged with espionage and detained by Russia’s Federal Security Service.
Part of the paper’s Friday report included a letter written by his family titled, “It felt like I was holding my breath.”
“Throughout all the hardships of this turbulent time, we have watched Evan face this uncertainty with no freedom, confined to a small cell, and limited news of the world.” the family said. Said in a letter.
“We have seen him face this with his head held high because he is innocent. On the days we look at it, it inspires us to keep moving forward every day.”
The paper’s editor-in-chief, Emma Tucker, also released a letter Friday pleading again for Gershkovic’s release and sharing optimism that the Biden administration will support his return. did.
“This one-year anniversary is an opportunity to pay tribute to our colleagues and their families,” Tucker said. I have written. “This is a reminder of the dangers that journalists around the world face in pursuing their essential mission. And it gives us the strength to continue our efforts to ensure that this is Evan’s final milestone in prison.” Masu.”
President Biden also issued a statement regarding Gershkovic on Friday morning.
“Journalism is not a crime, and Evan went to Russia to do his job as a reporter, risking his own safety in order to shine a true light on Russia’s brutal invasion of Ukraine. Totally unwarranted. And shortly after his illegal detention, he drafted a letter from prison to his family, writing, “I have not lost hope,” Biden said.
“As I told Evan’s parents, I will never give up hope. We will continue to work every day to secure his release.”
Gershkovitch, an American citizen, was charged with collecting Russian military state secrets for the American government. Press freedom groups, the U.S. government and his employer consider him to be unjustly detained.
Earlier this week, his detention was extended until June 30. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Thursday that “absolute silence” was needed to achieve a prisoner exchange that could include Mr. Gershkovych.
Former Marine Paul Whelan and Russian-American journalist Ars Kurmasheva are also being held in Russia.
Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
