Congressman Cohen Condemns Sentencing of Wall Street Journal Reporter Evan Gershkovich

WASHINGTON –Today, Evan Gershkovich, reporter for The Wall Street Journal, was sentenced to 16 years in a high-security penal colony by a court in Russia. Gershkovich’s sentencing comes after he was arrested almost 16 months ago on manufactured espionage charges. Helsinki Commission Ranking Member and OSCE PA Special Representative on Political Prisoners Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9) issued the following statement:

“Russia’s sentencing of Evan Gershkovich on espionage charges is entirely politically motivated, and he was given a sham trial. His detention, trial and conviction is outrageous.

We must hold the Russian government accountable for their systematic hostage taking of American citizens. Putin is not only targeting journalists. He is taking Americans on trumped-up charges simply to have a bank of hostages to trade for Russian spies and murderers. Putin is an outlaw, and Russia is an outlaw country. I urge Americans not to go to Russia. Seeing the State Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg or the Kremlin in Moscow isn’t worth the risk of potential decades in a Russian penal colony.

The U.S. Department of State has issued a travel advisory telling U.S. citizens not to travel to Russia due to a continued risk of wrongful detention of U.S. nationals by Russian authorities. The U.S. Embassy has limited ability to assist U.S. citizens in Russia.

Putin’s contempt for free press is evident by the fact that virtually all forms of independent media have been chased out of the country since the start of Russia’s war in Ukraine. Arresting and sentencing an innocent American journalist is further proof of Putin’s fear of the truth.

Gershkovich is designated as wrongfully detained by the U.S. Department of State, so I hope we can use that designation and every other instrument in our toolbox to bring him home.”

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