(Washington) The sister of the American journalist from Wall Street JournalEvan Gershkovich, detained in Russia since March on espionage charges, on Tuesday urged his release as he approaches his 32e birthday.
“Every day that Evan spends in prison is one day too many,” Danielle Gershkovich told AFP in Washington, “we want him to come back.”
Evan Gershkovich was arrested in late March by Russian security services while reporting in Yekaterinburg, in the Urals, and was imprisoned for espionage, a crime punishable by up to 20 years in prison.
Mr. Gershkovich, who also worked for the AFP in Moscow in the past, categorically rejects these accusations of espionage, as do Washington and its newspaper, ensuring that he was only doing his job as a journalist.
PHOTO PATRICK T. FALLON, AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE ARCHIVES
Evan Gershkovich was arrested in late March by Russian security services while reporting in Yekaterinburg, in the Urals, and was imprisoned for espionage, a crime punishable by up to 20 years in prison.
His sister, Danielle Gershkovich, says her family received a promise from U.S. President Joe Biden that he would “bring Evan back” to the United States.
“So we rely on the government,” she says. “But of course, Evan is not here today and the goal will not be achieved until he is with us.”
“So we have to stay strong and do our part,” she continues.
Danielle Gershkovich says her family was able to exchange letters with her brother. “They constitute a vital link for all of us,” she emphasizes. “I like to use them to cheer him up.”
“When I read his letters, I hear his voice in my head […] It makes me feel like we’re talking together. I feel connected to him. »
” Passion ”
Danielle Gershkovich says her family relied on Russian lawyers to help them navigate the legal system, but “unfortunately, it’s a pretty opaque matter.” »
Russia has never substantiated its accusations or publicly provided evidence, and the entire procedure has been classified secret. No date for his trial has been set at this time.
During the last hearing in this case, on October 10, Judge Yuriy Passyunin of the Moscow City Court decided to continue the journalist’s detention until at least November 30.
The journalist, whose birthday is Thursday, is still detained in Moscow’s Lefortovo prison.
Danielle Gershkovich says she began studying previous cases of Americans detained in Russia, “seeing them resume their lives after returning home.”
“I know that Evan will emerge even stronger from this ordeal, and that he will want to return to his job as a reporter,” she continues.
“He is incredibly passionate about the profession of journalism. It’s truly his passion. »
Evan Gershkovich continued his work in Russia after the start of the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, despite the departure of many Western journalists.
His parents, who fled the USSR, called for his release last month at the UN, ahead of the annual UN General Assembly.
In recent years, several American citizens have been arrested and sentenced to heavy sentences in Russia, with Washington accusing Moscow of wanting to exchange them for Russians detained in the United States.
In December 2022, American basketball player Brittney Griner, convicted in Russia on charges of cannabis trafficking, was released against Viktor Bout, a Russian arms dealer imprisoned in the United States.