US reporter, arrested for spying, 'violated' Russian law: Kremlin
The Kremlin says a Wall Street Journal reporter arrested on spying charges had "violated Russian law," after the United States said he had been "wrongfully detained" by Russia.
Evan Gershkovich "violated Russian law" and was caught "red-handed," the Kremlin said on Tuesday.
The announcement came after the US State Department officially designated Gershkovich as having been "wrongfully detained" by Russia.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters, "I don't understand what kind of innovations this new regime is introducing. As for what it means, I don't know."
"The court will make a decision," he asserted.
Russia’s main security agency said last month that it had detained the 31-year-old reporter, who is from Russian descent in the city of Yekaterinburg, more than 1000 kilometers east of Moscow.
The Federal Security Services (FSB) arrested Gershkovich over suspicions that he was committing an act of espionage under the guise of a reporting trip.
Next week, a Russian court is scheduled to hear an appeal lodged by Gershkovich's legal team against an order that he be held in pre-trial detention at Moscow's Lefortovo prison until May 29.
Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova pointed out that Gershkovich's activities in Yekaterinburg were “not related to journalism.”
“What an employee of the American edition of The Wall Street Journal was doing in Yekaterinburg has nothing to do with journalism,” Zakharova clarified in a message posted on social media on March 30, 2023.
US President Joe Biden said on Tuesday that the "totally illegal" jailing of Gershkovich on spying charges was "out of bounds."
Yekaterinburg is famous for its heavy industry and steel-making plants. The city also plays an important role in supplying equipment for the Russian military.
In addition, Yekaterinburg is a major freight transportation hub and center for international trade.
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