US Designates Reporter Held in Russia as ‘Wrongfully Detained’

The State Department announced on April 10 that it has designated Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reporter Evan Gershkovich as “wrongfully detained” in Russia.
The designation will allow the department to allocate more resources toward freeing Gershkovich as the Office of the Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs, led by Roger Carstens, will work to secure Gershkovich’s release.
“Journalism is not a crime. We condemn the Kremlin’s continued repression of independent voices in Russia, and its ongoing war against the truth,” said State Department principal deputy spokesperson Vedant Patel in a statement announcing that Secretary of State Antony Blinken made the designation….}