American Ambassador to Moscow Lynne Tracy was able on Friday to visit journalist Evan Gershkovich, who is jailed in Russia on espionage charges he denies, after Vladimir Putin said he “hopes” for an agreement with Washington on the issue.
• Also read: Russia: The judiciary keeps the American journalist Gershkovich in custody
Wall Street Journal journalist Evan Gershkovich “remains optimistic and thanks his family, friends and everyone who has followed his situation for more than 250 days for their support,” the American embassy said on Telegram.
A Russian court decided on Thursday to keep Mr. Gershkovich in custody until at least the end of January 2024, and his trial has not yet begun.
The 32-year-old American journalist, who also worked for AFP in Moscow in the past, was arrested by Russian security services on March 29 while reporting in Yekaterinburg in the Urals.
He is accused of espionage, a crime punishable by 20 years in prison, but he denies these accusations, as does Washington, his newspaper, his friends and his family.
Russia has never substantiated its allegations or publicly provided evidence, and the entire process was classified.
Asked Thursday about him and the case of another American imprisoned in Russia, Vladimir Putin said he wanted to “reach an agreement” with Washington.
He confirmed that there were contacts with the United States and that Washington “must make an appropriate decision that suits the Russian side.”
In recent years, several American citizens have been arrested and sentenced to heavy sentences in Russia. Washington accused Moscow of wanting to exchange them for Russians imprisoned in the United States.