Russia denies U.S. Embassy's request to visit jailed American journalist Evan Gershkovich in retaliation for visa denial

Russia’s Foreign Ministry has denied a request by the U.S. Embassy in Russia for a consular visit to jailed American journalist Evan Gershkovich on May 11.

According to the Russian authorities, the denial was a retaliation for the U.S. government’s decision not to issue visas to Russian journalists who planned to accompany Russian Foreign Ministry Sergey Lavrov to the U.N. headquarters in New York this week. After the visa denial, Lavrov vowed that Russia would “not forget” and “not forgive” the U.S. Shortly after, a Russian diplomatic source told state media that there should be “no doubt that American journalists will experience all the discomfort and inconvenience.”

Gershkovich was arrested on March 30 on orders from Russia’s Federal Security Service, which claims that he was involved in “espionage,” an offense punishable by up to 20 years in prison.