White House communications coordinator John Kirby told CNN on Tuesday that the Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich "shouldn’t be detained at all," after a Moscow court today extended his detention until August 30.
"Journalism is not a crime. He needs to be released immediately," Kirby stressed, promising that the United States will continue to work very hard to bring him back to his family. According to him, Washington is aiming to get to the journalist using consular access.
These comments echo US President Joe Biden's calls for Gershkovich's release, while Moscow maintains the reporter was caught "red-handed" in espionage.
