Biden marks journalist arrest anniversary, warns Russia of “costs”

U.S. President Joe Biden on Friday recognized American journalist Evan Gershkovich one year since Russian authorities arrested him. The journalist has been unjustly and illegally detained, the president said.

Biden praised the 32-year-old for covering the truth of Russia’s brutality in its war against Ukraine, insisting that journalism is not a crime. The president said he’s not giving up hope for Gershkovich and other Russian hostages, like former U.S. Marine Paul Whelan. Biden said that his administration will continue to denounce Russia and impose costs for its wrongful detention of U.S. citizens.

Russian authorities arrested the Wall Street Journal reporter on espionage charges but have not presented evidence supporting their allegations. Russia has passed laws over several years stifling independent TV, radio, and online news channels, prompting many journalists to flee, according to Reporters Without Borders. Gershkovich’s case has been compared to the Soviet Union’s arrest of American journalist Nicholas Daniloff in 1986.

Are there any discussions around his release? Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Thursday that discussions about prisoner exchange must be carried out quietly. A Russian court on Tuesday extended Gershkovich’s pre-trial detention by three months. However, Russian President Vladimir Putin last month told former Fox News host Tucker Carlson that Gershkovich might be returned in a prisoner exchange.

Dig deeper: Read Jamie Dean’s report in WORLD Magazine on Russian censorship.