Washington — The U.S. ambassador to Russia had a meeting with Evan Gershkovich, a Wall Street Journal reporter who was detained in a Moscow prison on espionage charges. This is their second meeting since Gershkovich’s arrest in March.
Ambassador Lynne Tracey’s visit comes amid U.S. protests over Russian authorities refusing access to diplomatic officials to meet with Gershkovich at Lefortovo prison, where he is being held.
Gershkovich, the U.S. government, and the Wall Street Journal strongly deny the espionage charges, which are the first against an American reporter in Russia since the Cold War. Tracy first met with Gershkovich on April 17, more than two weeks after his arrest.
“Ambassador Tracy reports that Mr. Gershkovich is in good health and remains strong, despite his circumstances,” said a State Department spokesperson. “U.S. Embassy officials will continue to provide all appropriate support to Mr. Gershkovich and his family, and we expect Russian authorities to provide continued consular access.”
Roger Carstens, the special presidential envoy for hostage affairs at the State Department, stated that Tracy witnessed a recent hearing where Gershkovich’s detention was extended for another 90 days. However, U.S. officials have been unable to communicate with him for weeks due to Russia’s refusal to provide consular access.
“She had the chance to see him,” said Carstens. “And while that’s a positive, we haven’t had the opportunity to secure consular access yet. And in our view, the Russians owe us that.”
According to the 1963 Vienna Convention on Consular Relations, both the U.S. and Russia have the right to visit and communicate with their nationals who have been arrested or detained in other countries.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken stated that the U.S. has been seeking consular access to Gershkovich “virtually every day.”
“We will continue working to bring Evan home,” Blinken affirmed. “We won’t stop until we succeed.”
Carstens mentioned that the Russians are playing a tough game regarding Gershkovich’s potential release.
“They are not willing to engage in dialogue with us regarding him,” Carstens explained. “The Russians might prolong the trial process. And once there’s a conviction, which I assume will happen, it will be time to negotiate his release.”
The U.S. is not waiting until Gershkovich’s trial, which has yet to be scheduled, to explore avenues for securing his release, according to Carstens.
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