(CNN) — The Wall Street Journal, Thursday, denied allegations made by Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) about its reporter, Ivan Gershkovich, who was arrested on suspicion of espionage.
The newspaper said, in the statement, that it “strongly denies the allegations of the Russian security service,” and calls for his immediate release, and stands in solidarity with him and his family.
On the other hand, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters when asked to comment on the journalist’s arrest: “As far as I know, he was caught red-handed.”
He added: “This is the responsibility of the security apparatus, and he issued a statement, and the only thing I can add is that he was caught red-handed, as far as we know.”
Peskov did not comment when asked whether the journalist’s arrest was a response to the US authorities’ arrest of Russian citizen Sergei Vladimirovich Cherkasov last week on charges of spying for Russia. “I have nothing to say on this subject,” the spokesman said.
The Russian Federal Security Service announced, in a statement, published by the Russian news agency RIA Novosti, that the American journalist was arrested “while trying to obtain classified information” related to “the activities of a company affiliated with the Russian military-industrial complex.”
Russian state news agency Tass reported that Gershkovich was arrested in the Yekaterinburg region, on the eastern side of the Ural Mountains.
According to Gershkovich’s biography page published on the Wall Street Journal’s website, his journalistic work includes Russia, Ukraine and the former Soviet Union, and he previously worked for Agence France-Presse, the “Moscow Times” and “The New York Times”.
Ivan Gershkovich is the first American journalist to be accused by Russia of espionage since 1986, when journalist Nick Danilov was arrested on a similar charge. release him.
The post The Wall Street Journal responds to Russia’s allegations of “espionage” by its reporter appeared first on Gatto Presss.