The editors of the Wall Street Journal, whose journalist Evan Gershkovich was accused by the FSB of espionage, called on the US authorities to expel the Russian ambassador and all Russian journalists from the country.
“The Biden administration will have to consider diplomatic and political escalation. The expulsion of the Russian ambassador to the United States, as well as all Russian journalists working here, is the expected minimum. The first duty of the US government is to protect its citizens, and far too many governments now believe they can arrest and imprison Americans with impunity.
The Wall Street Journal calls the case against Gershkovich «a deliberate provocation,» the purpose of which is «to embarrass the United States and intimidate the foreign press still working in Russia.» The publication noted that foreign journalists have become the last independent source of news from Russia.
The editors also write that the last material Gershkovich worked on was Russia's Economy Is Starting to Come Undone — documents the decline of the Russian economy, which the Kremlin is trying to cover up.
The FSB accused Wall Street Journal correspondent Evan Gershkovich of espionage (Article 276 of the Criminal Code). The journalist was detained in Yekaterinburg, and from there he was taken to Moscow. The day before, on March 30, the Lefortovsky District Court of the capital arrested him. After that, US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken urged Americans to leave Russia.
Wall Street Journal journalist arrested. Online from court