Secretary Blinken Urges Russia to Release Detained American Journalist and Corporate Executive

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Blinken urged Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov to release Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich and imprisoned American Paul Whelan.

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Gershkovich was detained on espionage allegations related to an enterprise of the military-industrial complex, according to Russia's top security agency, FSB.

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US officials said they were considering a similar determination for Gershkovich, and if made, his case would be transferred to the office of the US Special Presidential for Hostage Affairs.

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Whelan, a Michigan corporate security executive, has been imprisoned in Russia since December 2018 on espionage charges that his family and the US government have said are baseless.

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Blinken and Lavrov also discussed the importance of creating an environment that permits diplomatic missions to carry out their work.

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The detention of Gershkovich was deemed unacceptable by the State Department and has been adamantly denied by The Wall Street Journal.

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More than 30 news organizations and press freedom advocates have expressed concern over Russia's message that reporting inside the country is criminalized.

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Know how the man from Bihar was killed and his cousin injured

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