The Wall Street Journal denies charges and demands release
The White House says U.S. President Joe Biden was briefed on this incident.
This comes as tensions are already high between the United States and Russia over the war in Ukraine – now, relations are intensifying after an American journalist was arrested in Moscow.
Evan Gershkovitch a reporter for the Wall Street Journal who was based in Moscow was arrested by the Russian Intelligence Service.
He is accused of spying for the United States.
Moscow alleges that the Wall Street Journal reporter was trying to obtain classified information.
The Journal denies those charges and demanding his release.
The 31-year-old was reportedly arrested yesterday while working on stories 1,500 kilometres east of Moscow.
He was brought back to the Russian capitol and appeared at a closed hearing today before taking off to prison.
State Media says he’s been formally charged.
He pled not guilty and is in pretrial detention until the end of May.
The Wall Street Journal denies the espionage charges and is calling for his immediate released.
The White House says they have been in contact with Gershkovitch’s family and are pledging support from the State Department.
Moscow is making very serious accusations.
Gershkovitch faces up to 20 years in jail.
This is the first American journalist to be arrested on espionage charges in Russia since the Cold War.
