The United States has described as unacceptable Russia's arrest and detention of Evan Gershkovich, an American journalist working for The Wall Street Journal.
While strongly condemning Russia's action, US officials said on Thursday, they were in contact with Mr.Gershkovich
family, and the newspaper and that the State Department had also contacted Russia.
According to The Times of Israel, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre, in a statement called on American citizens not to ignore the US government warning to not travel to Russia, urging those residing in Russia to leave immediately.
"The targeting of American citizens by the Russian government is unacceptable. We condemn the detention of Mr. Gershkovich in the strongest terms.
“I want to strongly reiterate that Americans should heed the US government’s warning to not travel to Russia. US citizens residing or traveling in Russia should depart immediately. the statement said.
Reacting later to Russia's accusation that the detained Mr. Gershkovich was spying, Jean-Pierre told reporters, “The charge of espionage is ridiculous.”
Also reacting, White House national security spokesman John Kirby noted that detaining foreigners and especially Americans is an old strategy for Russia.
He expressed his concern about Americans still staying in Russia, although it is understood that journalists must take risks even knowingly.
“We respect that, but it doesn’t change our deep concern about the presence of Americans” still in Russia, Kirby told reporters.
“This is not a new tactic for Mr. Putin and for Russian officials to detain foreigners and particularly Americans,” Kirby said.
The US Secretary of State Antony Blinken linked the detention to the wider clampdown on media in Russia.
“In the strongest possible terms, we condemn the Kremlin’s continued attempts to intimidate, repress, and punish journalists and civil society voices,” Blinken said.
Relations between Washington and Russia
have soured since Russia invaded Ukraine last year.
Gershkovich, who is the son of Soviet Jewish immigrants is believed to be the first foreign journalist to be detained on suspicion of spying in post-Soviet Russia.
Politics and Opinion.
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