‘Depart instantly’: US advisory to residents in Russia after journo’s arrest

Evan Gershkovich, a 31-year-old who has labored in Russia as a journalist for six years, was arrested on Thursday. The US authorities has now suggested all Americans residing or travelling in Russia to go away instantly.

New Delhi,UPDATED: Mar 30, 2023 23:24 IST

White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre. (Image: Reuters)

By India Today World Desk: The US State Department on Thursday suggested all American residents residing in or touring in Russia to go away instantly. The advisory comes within the wake of the arrest of an American correspondent for the Wall Street Journal.

Russia on Thursday charged 31-year-old Evan Gershkovich with spying. The Russian safety forces mentioned it arrested Gershkovich within the Urals industrial metropolis of Yekaterinburg, “suspected of spying in the interests of the American government” by accumulating info on “one of the enterprises of Russia’s military-industrial complex”, which it didn’t establish.

Following Gershkovich’s arrest, the White House mentioned the State Department was in direct contact with the Russian authorities over his detention and urged US residents residing or travelling in Russia to depart instantly.

“We condemn the detention of Mr. Gershkovich in the strongest terms,” White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre mentioned. “We also condemn the Russian government’s continued targeting and repression of journalists and freedom of the press.”

ALSO READ | Ukraine must be ‘erased off the map’, says Russian propagandist | Watch

“Last night, White House and State Department Officials spoke with Mr Gershkovich’s employer, the Wall Street Journal. The Administration has also been in contact with his family. Furthermore, the State Department has been in direct touch with the Russian government on this matter, including actively working to secure consular access to Mr Gershkovich,” Karine Jean-Pierre said.

Karine Jean-Pierre said the targeting of American citizens by the Russian government was “unacceptable”.

The statement added, “I need to strongly reiterate that Americans ought to heed the US authorities’s warning to not journey to Russia. US residents residing or travelling in Russia ought to depart instantly, because the State Department continues to advise.”

Russia’s relations with the US has continued to deteriorate after Moscow invaded Ukraine in February final yr.

ALSO READ | Russian troopers in Ukraine typically drunk from lack of self-discipline, low morale

Published On:

Mar 30, 2023