Danielle Gershkovich received a distressing call a year ago informing her that her brother, Evan, a Wall Street Journal reporter, had been arrested in Russia on espionage charges, marking him as the first American journalist to face such accusations since the Cold War. The charge carried a potential sentence of up to 20 years in prison.
During a video interview from Washington, Danielle shared the emotional struggle of coping with her brother’s incarceration, highlighting the importance of maintaining a light-hearted correspondence with him to support each other during this challenging time.
Evan was detained in Yekaterinburg by the FSB, Russia’s security service, on allegations of possessing classified information, which he, his employer, and the US government vehemently deny. Despite being confined in a Russian jail, Evan has found ways to uplift his family, even arranging for flowers to be sent to the women in his life on International Women’s Day.
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In Moscow, public glimpses of Evan have been rare, limited to brief appearances during court proceedings. The lack of transparency was evident when journalists were unexpectedly barred from one of his hearings, with only a brief video released by the court.
Evan is currently held in Lefortovo prison, a facility with a grim history, where he has been relying on letters from family, friends, and strangers for emotional support. The US government has classified him as “wrongfully detained,” a stance reinforced by US Ambassador Lynne Tracy, who has been one of the few allowed to visit Evan.
The suggestion that Evan could be used as a bargaining chip in a prisoner exchange has been implied by various comments, including those from Russian President Vladimir Putin. This speculation is further supported by the recent exchange of US basketball player Brittney Griner for Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout in December 2022.
Evan’s case has drawn parallels with other Americans detained in Russia, including former marine Paul Whelan and journalist Alsu Kurmasheva, raising concerns about the practice of “hostage diplomacy.” Danielle remains focused on her brother’s return, emphasizing the broader implications for journalism and freedom of speech.
