Trump Urges Release of Detained WSJ Reporter Evan Gershkovich for the First Time

In a recent interview, former President Donald Trump made a noteworthy statement, urging Russia to release Evan Gershkovich, a Wall Street Journal reporter who has been held for over a year.

Trump expressed his stance to Time magazine, emphasizing, "The reporter should be released, and he will be released." He acknowledged uncertainty regarding Gershkovich's potential release under President Joe Biden's administration, but asserted his commitment to securing his freedom.

Gershkovich has been detained in Russia since March 2023 on what the Journal and US authorities deem as unfounded espionage charges. Trump, who has previously refrained from openly criticizing Russian President Vladimir Putin's regime, attributed his prior silence on Gershkovich's case to his focus on various other matters.

The journalist was arrested in Yekaterinburg in March 2023, marking the first such arrest of a journalist since the Cold War era. Despite the lack of evidence from the Russian government, Gershkovich, aged 32, has been confined to Moscow's notorious Lefortovo Prison for over a year.

In contrast, the Biden administration swiftly condemned Gershkovich's detention. President Biden called for his release immediately after his arrest and reiterated this stance at the White House Correspondents' Association dinner, emphasizing ongoing efforts to secure his freedom. Last year, the US State Department officially declared Gershkovich's detention wrongful, emphasizing the importance of press freedom.

The Wall Street Journal's editorial board questioned Trump's silence on Gershkovich's case, contrasting it with bipartisan condemnation from other political figures. Despite the Biden administration's efforts, including a reported offer to exchange detained Russian nationals for Gershkovich and fellow American Paul Whelan, progress towards his release has been elusive.

Responding to Trump's remarks, the White House reiterated its call for Gershkovich's immediate release, underscoring President Biden's commitment to securing the freedom of unjustly detained individuals, including journalists like Gershkovich and Whelan.