The U.S. ambassador to Russia mentioned {that a} choice on December 14 by the Moscow Metropolis Courtroom to reject an enchantment filed by Evan Gershkovich in opposition to the extension of his pretrial detention confirmed a ”acquainted routine” in Russia’s dealing with of the espionage case in opposition to The Wall Avenue Journal reporter, which he and Washington refute.
The rejection of the enchantment got here on the identical day that Russian President Vladimir Putin mentioned there had been ”dialogue” between U.S. and Russian officers over the discharge of Gershkovich and one other American, Paul Whelan, who’re being held on espionage expenses that they deny.
Ambassador Lynne Tracy mentioned in a assertion after the ruling that the denial of the enchantment, the fourth by the courtroom, implies that Gershkovich’s ordeal has stretched on for greater than 250 days.
”Though Evan appeared as sharp and centered as ever right this moment within the courtroom, it’s unacceptable that Russian authorities have chosen to make use of him as a political pawn,” Tracy mentioned.
”As the vacations method, our ideas are with Evan and Paul Whelan, in addition to their households, associates, and colleagues. Each of those males should be at residence with their households.”
Tracy additionally repeated the U.S. authorities stance that the costs in opposition to Gershkovich and Whelan ”are baseless” and that Washington ”will proceed to advocate for Evan’s quick launch, and the discharge of all wrongfully detained Individuals abroad.”
Putin mentioned throughout his annual press convention and call-in occasion {that a} prisoner swap involving Gershkovich and/or Whelan, a U.S. Marine veteran, is ”a sophisticated one,” however that he’s hopeful an settlement will be reached
”A dialogue is below means. It’s a difficult one. However the choice should be one that can mutually fulfill all sides,” he mentioned when requested concerning the two detainees.
The query, requested by a New York Occasions reporter, didn’t point out some other Individuals at present being held by Russia, together with veteran RFE/RL journalist Alsu Kurmasheva.
Gershkovich was detained in late March within the Urals metropolis of Yekaterinburg. Russia’s Federal Safety Service (FSB) mentioned on the time of his arrest that it had opened an espionage case in opposition to the reporter for amassing what it mentioned had been state secrets and techniques concerning the military-industrial advanced on the behest of the U.S. authorities — accusations The Wall Avenue Journal and the US firmly rejected.
The Moscow Metropolis Courtroom on December 14 rejected an enchantment filed by Gershkovich in opposition to the extension in late November of his pretrial detention.
Whelan was arrested in 2018 and convicted in 2020 of espionage, which he and Washington deny. He was sentenced to 16 years in jail and is at present incarcerated in a infamous Russian jail in Mordovia.
Whelan was head of world safety at a U.S. auto-parts provider when he was arrested. He and his family members insist he visited Russia to attend a marriage.
A number of Individuals have been detained in Russia in recent times on expenses that their households, supporters, and in some instances the U.S. authorities, have mentioned are trumped-up.
U.S. State Division spokesman Matthew Miller instructed reporters on December 14 that the the US has “put a number of gives on the desk,” together with a ”vital provide” made just a few weeks in the past.
“We’ve seen these gives rejected each time by the Russian authorities,” he mentioned.
Washington would welcome Russia partaking critically in talks that might result in the discharge of Gershkovich and Whelan, he mentioned, including that the US hopes the Russian facet ”will change the way in which they deal with this going ahead.”
Putin declined to enter particulars, however mentioned ”on the whole, it appears to me that we converse a language that’s comprehensible to one another.”
He added that he hopes for an answer, ”however, I repeat, the American facet should hear us and make an acceptable choice, one which fits the Russian facet.”
Kurmasheva, a Prague, Czech Republic-based journalist with RFE/RL’s Tatar-Bashkir Service who holds twin U.S. and Russian citizenship, has been held in Russian custody since October 18 on cost of violating the so-called ”international agent” legislation’s rules. She was apprehended in Russia whereas there for a household emergency.
Russian media reported earlier this week that she is now accused additionally of distributing ”faux” information about Russia’s armed forces, a cost that comes with a punishment of as much as 10 years in jail.
RFE/RL has condemned the costs and says Kurmasheva is being ”unjustly detained.”
With reporting by AP