Congressman Cohen Condemns Politically Motivated Indictment of Wall Street Journal Reporter Evan Gershkovich
Calls charges “an affront to justice and basic human values”
WASHINGTON --On the indictment of the Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich by the Russian authorities, the Helsinki Commission Ranking Member and OSCE PA Special Representative on Political Prisoners Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9) issued the following statement:
“Russia’s arrest, detention and now indictment of Evan on espionage charges are entirely politically motivated and an affront to justice and basic human values.
“This is another example of the Russian authorities taking innocent Americans hostage and accusing them of false, trumped-up crimes they have never committed. The Russian authorities know too well Evan has only done his work and has never engaged in any of the many charges he is facing. Russia must release Evan immediately and, failing that, the entirety of the U.S. Government must use every instrument in our toolbox to bring him home. We must also hold the Russian government accountable for their systematic hostage taking of American citizens.”
# # #