Journalist Evan Gershkovich, recently released, sheds light on the plight of political prisoners in Russia

August 2, 2024 TruthUSA

Freed journalist Evan Gershkovich has brought attention to the situation of other political prisoners still incarcerated in Russian prisons.

Speaking after landing in the US, Gershkovich expressed gratitude for the support shown by those present.

Gershkovich was part of the group involved in the largest prisoner exchange between the West and Russia since the Cold War.

Among those released by Moscow were British citizen Vladimir Kara-Murza and former US marine Paul Whelan.

“I was in prison in Yekaterinburg for a month, and everyone I met there is a political prisoner, unknown to the public,” Gershkovich told The Guardian.

“Today was a moving moment… but it would be beneficial to also focus on helping them,” he added.

According to the Russian human rights group OVD-Info, over 1,000 individuals are currently imprisoned in Russia due to politically motivated charges.

President Joe Biden, who met Gershkovich and others upon their arrival, stated that the American detainees’ “traumatic experience has ended,” praising their release as a “diplomatic achievement” involving multiple countries and a “huge relief” for their families.

Who is Evan Gershkovich?

US journalist Gershkovich was first arrested and detained in March 2023 after Russia claimed he had been “gathering secret information” on orders from the CIA.

President Biden previously said the Wall Street Journal reporter had been “targeted” and that they were “pushing hard” for his release.

Russian prosecutors alleged he had gathered secret information on the orders of the CIA about a company that manufactures tanks for Moscow’s war in Ukraine.

Gershkovich, aged 32, denied the charges against him, with his employer labeling the case as a fraud.

He was sentenced to 16 years in prison earlier this month after being convicted of espionage in a trial widely perceived as politically motivated.

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