Friday's edition (March 29) pays tribute to Ivan Gershkovitch, accused of espionage, arrested in Moscow on March 29, 2023.
Ivan's arrest Gershkovitch is a North American newspaper correspondent wall street Journal, In Russia, he turned 1 on Friday (March 29, 2024). The date was remembered by various vehicles in the country, including the Wall Street Journal itself. On the cover of this sixth issue, the newspaper left a blank space that occupied most of the page containing the title “Your report should be here.”
Also on the cover is text with the title “What Ivan missed during the year he spent in prison”.
“Ivan missed 12 months of normal life when he was 32, a year in which he had to travel around Europe and the US between groups of friends, family and business trips to Russia.Excerpt says.
The text describes Ivan as a “Magnet for friends” He remembers the weddings and engagements of his acquaintances, which he was unable to attend last year. He regrets all the fun moments the journalist missed during his time in prison, including football matches with fellow professionals in London.
“Friends and family send messages with updates about the world and drama at work. He plays mail chess with his father and makes suggestions for a fantasy basketball league. “He devours Russian classics and history books from the prison library.”The newspaper says that the journalist was a victim of A “lie”.
On some pages of the edition there are other blank spaces to note Gershkovitch's absence. There is also a full page with a photo of the journalist and a space where his family talks about prison.
Here's what the entire Gershkovitch family had to say:
Dear Wall Street Journal reader,
“This year has been unimaginable for our family in so many ways. It has been like holding your breath. We have lived with constant pain in our hearts thinking about Evan every moment of every day. We never expected this situation to happen to our son and brother, let alone An entire year has passed without certainty or a clear path for the future.
But despite this long battle, we remain resilient and strong. This is due to Ivan's courage and the help and support of the wonderful people around us.
“Through all the challenges of this turbulent time, we watch Evan face this uncertainty, trapped in a small cell, with little news of the world, without his freedom. We have seen him face this with his head held high because he is innocent. He inspires us to keep going every day, Especially on the days when we receive his letters and see his smile from the courtroom camera.
“We have also relied heavily on support from family, friends, colleagues at The Wall Street Journal, the US government, and people around the world who recognize that Evan has been wrongfully detained without trial for a year.
“Thank you so much to everyone who continues to fight for Ivan and continues to keep him in their thoughts and prayers. We have no words to express how important this is to us. We will continue to fight for Ivan’s freedom no matter what it takes.
“Sincerely, Gershkovich Family”
“Dark Prison”
Other international newspapers also covered the issue. in Publishing On your Instagram profile, Financial Times Evan's silence says “It continues to resonate” After 1 year in prison.
“320 journalists were arrested around the world in 2023. We will continue to report them so they can tell their stories.”“, declares the newspaper on the social network.
British guardian Named date “blackness” Ivan's arrest was classified as A “reminder” The dangers of journalistic life.
“Gershkovitch’s first year in Lefortovo and the global efforts to free him were a constant reminder of the dangers of working as a correspondent, especially in volatile authoritarian regimes like Vladimir Putin’s.”states the car.
north america The New York Times Features an interview with Ella Melman and Mikhail Gershkovich, Ivan's parents. in PublishingThe two talk about the absence of the daily journalist from home.
“Every day is very difficult, every day we feel like he is not here. We want him home, and it has been one year. This has cost a lot.”Melman says.
the case
Ivan Gershkovitch was arrested on March 29, 2023 in Yekaterinburg on charges of espionage. According to the journalist FSB (Russian Federal Security Service). “He was acting on orders from the American side to collect information about the activities of one of the companies of the Russian military-industrial complex, which constitute a state secret.”.
The agency said that Gershkovitch received accreditation from the Russian Foreign Ministry to work in the country. The journalist lives in Moscow for 6 years. But Russian agency spokeswoman Maria Zakharova told reporters that the reporter was using his credentials to “Activities not related to journalism”.
Last Tuesday (March 26), the journalist’s pretrial detention was extended until June. In a statement issued on Friday (March 29), United States President Joe Biden said, He said What “I will not give up” I hope to see Evan released. And talk about imposing “Costs” to the Russian government until the professional is released.
We will continue to expose and impose costs on Russia's appalling attempts to use Americans as a bargaining chip. We will continue to stand strong against anyone who seeks to attack the press or target journalists – the pillars of a free society.Biden wrote.
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