The US ambassador to Russia was allowed on Monday, July 4, to visit in prison the American journalist Evan Gershkovich, arrested at the end of March, who according to her is "in good health".
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Lynne Tracy went to Moscow's Lefortovo prison, the U.S. State Department said. This is only their second meeting since the journalist was arrested while reporting in Yekaterinburg (Urals) on 29 March.
'Strong despite circumstances'
The Russian authorities have repeatedly refused to grant a consular visit to Evan Gershkovich, who faces accusations of "espionage" that he rejects. "Ambassador Tracy has indicated that Evan Gershkovich is in good health and remains strong despite the circumstances," a State Department spokesperson said.
Evan Gershkovich, who worked for AFP, is the first foreign journalist arrested in Russia on espionage charges since the fall of the Soviet Union. His arrest comes amid serious diplomatic tensions between the United States and Russia caused by the conflict in Ukraine, where Washington supports Kiev militarily and financially against Moscow.
The United States and Evan Gershkovich's employer, the Wall Street Journal, agree with him to reject the accusations of "espionage" made by the Russian authorities. They accuse Moscow of attacking him because of his work as a journalist. The State Department has indicated that it will continue to call for Gershkovich's release and will seek regular consular access in the meantime.
" READ ALSO In Russia, an arrest of American journalist reminiscent of the Cold War
'Extremely disappointed'
Russia said it had denied access in response to the US refusal to issue visas to some Russian journalists in April. Last week, the head of US diplomacy, Antony Blinken, expressed concern about this lack of access to Evan Gershkovich and assured that the United States was pressuring "almost every day" to remedy it. "At the same time, we continue to look for ways to bring him home," as does Paul Whelan, a former Marine Corps non-commissioned officer who has been incarcerated for four years, Blinken said.
Ambassador Tracy hasn't seen Paul Whelan since May. A Moscow court rejected Gershkovich's request for release on 22 June. Lynne Tracy, who attended the hearing, said the U.S. was "extremely disappointed." Washington has sharply reduced its high-level contacts with Moscow since the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, but has made exceptions to arrange two prisoner exchanges. In December, American basketball player Brittney Griner, arrested in Russia on cannabis trafficking charges, was released against Viktor Bout, a Russian arms dealer imprisoned in the United States.