Russia Urged to Release American Journalist Evan Gershkovich
Two UN human rights experts have called for the immediate release of American journalist Evan Gershkovich, who has been detained in Russia without evidence for a year. Gershkovich, a 32-year-old reporter for The Wall Street Journal, was arrested on espionage charges in Yekaterinburg and is currently held at Lefortovo prison in Moscow.
Condemnation of Arbitrary Detention
Mariana Katzarova, UN Special Rapporteur on human rights in Russia, and Irene Khan, Special Rapporteur on freedom of opinion and expression, condemned the arbitrary detention of Gershkovich. They emphasized that Russian authorities have failed to provide credible evidence to support the espionage allegations against him.
Pattern of Targeting Independent Voices
The Moscow City Court recently extended Gershkovich’s detention for another three months, highlighting a pattern of politically motivated charges aimed at silencing dissenting voices. The experts expressed concern over the lack of trial proceedings for Gershkovich, raising doubts about the fairness of the legal process.
Call for International Support
The experts noted a concerning trend of increasing journalist imprisonments in Russia, particularly following the invasion of Ukraine. They called on the international community to support independent journalists facing repression and urged for the immediate release of all detained journalists, including Gershkovich and Alsu Kurmasheva.
Alsu Kurmasheva, a journalist with US citizenship, has also been arbitrarily detained in Russia and is accused of violating laws on “foreign agents.” The experts strongly condemned the violations of human rights obligations by Russian authorities and called for the release of all imprisoned journalists.
Special Rapporteurs appointed by the UN Human Rights Council monitor and report on human rights issues globally. They operate independently and do not receive salaries for their work, serving in their individual capacities.