United States President Joe Biden condemned Friday the 16-year prison sentence given to The Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, emphasizing that he has "committed no crime," insisting that his profession and his American citizenship it is what made him a target for Moscow.
"We are pushing hard for Evan’s release and will continue to do so […] Journalism is not a crime. We will continue to stand strong for press freedom in Russia and worldwide, and stand against all those who seek to attack the press or target journalists," Biden noted.
Moreover, he stressed that since the beginning of his administration, he prioritized the release of "wrongfully detained Americans," including Evan and Paul Whelan. "We will not cease in our efforts to bring him home," the president added.
