Lawmakers Rally Together in Support of Imprisoned Journalist Gershkovich

Congressional leaders united in a rare moment of solidarity on Friday to issue a joint statement denouncing the detention of American journalist Evan Gershkovich, as it marked one year since his captivity in Russia began.

“Evan Gershkovich, an American citizen and reporter for The Wall Street Journal, has now been unjustly detained by Putin’s government for a year. We continue to condemn his wrongful arrest, fabricated charges, and unfair imprisonment,” said Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La), Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.), and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) in the statement.

Gershkovich was arrested by the Federal Security Service (FSB) on March 29, 2023, in the Ural Mountains of Yekaterinburg. The FSB alleges he was seeking state secrets on behalf of the U.S. government but has not provided evidence to support their claim.

“The Kremlin’s efforts to silence Evan and intimidate other Western journalists will not deter the pursuit of truth,” the congressional statement continued.

President Joe Biden and Secretary of State Antony Blinken also issued separate statements condemning the anniversary.

“Today we commemorate a painful anniversary: one year since the wrongful detention of American journalist Evan Gershkovich in Russia,” Biden said in a statement.

“Evan has shown remarkable resilience despite the challenges of living in Russian detention,” Blinken said in his statement.

The Wall Street Journal honored its correspondent by leaving part of its front page blank on Friday, posting an image of the tribute.