Photo: Evan Gershkovich
Former President Donald Trump wrote on social networks that he is using his relationship with Vladimir Putin to achieve the release of Wall Street Journal correspondent Evan Gershkovich, detained in Russia.
On his social network Truth Social Trump wrote that this will happen soon after the presidential election in November if he defeats Joe Biden and returns to the White House, reports Voice of America.
"Evan Gershkovitch, the Wall Street Journal reporter held by Russia, will be released almost immediately after the election, and even before I take office. He will be home, safe and with his family– Trump said. – Vladimir Putin, the President of Russia, will do this for me, but not for anyone else, and WE WILL NOT PAY ANYTHING (for it)!'
Trump did not mention any contacts with Putin and did not say what reason he had to believe that the Russian president would release Gershkovich.
In February, Putin said that the American journalist could be freed in exchange for a Russian imprisoned Germany for murder.
Gershkovich was detained in March 2023 and has since been held in pre-trial detention on espionage charges, which he, his employer and the US government categorically deny. If convicted, he could be sentenced to 20 years in prison.
In addition to Gershkovich, among the US citizens currently held by Russian authorities are – former marine Paul Whelan, detained in 2018 and journalist of the Tatar-Bashkir service of Radio Liberty Alsou Kurmasheva, who has dual citizenship of the USA and Russia. She was arrested in October 2023 on charges of failure to register as a "foreign agent" and the spread of “fake news” about the Russian armed forces.
The United States declared Gershkovich and Whelan wrongfully detained.
US President Joe Biden at the end of April called on Putin to release American journalists Evan Gershkovich and Alsa Kurmasheva.
"Journalism – this is definitely not a crime– Biden said at the White House Correspondents' Association dinner earlier this month. – Putin must release Evan and Alsou immediately.
In a statement marking the anniversary of Gershkovich's unlawful detention, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in March that the United States would aggressively pursue the return of Evan Gershkovich and other American citizens detained in Russia.
Prepared by: Sergey Daga