A group of foreign journalists who used to work in Moscow published an open letter to Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov, demanding the immediate release of The Wall Street Journal correspondent Evan Gershkovich, who was arrested in Russia on espionage charges.
The letter has been signed by 301 journalists from 22 countries, including The New Yorker editor in chief David Remnick, Puck News Washington correspondent Julia Ioffe, former NPR Moscow bureau chief Lucian Kim, Financial Times Moscow bureau chief Max Seddon, The New Yorker writer Susan Glassner, and others.
The letter reads:
We have all worked in Russia as foreign correspondents, some for a few months, others for decades. We are shocked and appalled by the arrest of our colleague Evan Gershkovich and the charges brought against him.
Evan Gershkovich has a long and impressive record of journalistic work. We have no doubt that the only purpose and intention of his work was to inform his readers about the current reality in Russia. Seeking out information, even if it means upsetting political interests, does not make Evan a criminal or a spy, it makes him a journalist. Journalism is not a crime.
The arrest sends a disturbing and dangerous signal about Russia's disregard for independent media and shows indifference to the fate of a young, talented and honest journalist.
We call on the Russian authorities to drop these charges and immediately release Evan Gershkovich.
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