President Biden gave a brief acknowledgment during his State of the Union address of Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, who has been considered wrongfully detained in Russia for nearly a year. Seen in the gallery were Gershkovich's parents, Ella Milman and Mikhail Gershkovich, wearing "Free Evan" buttons. PUTIN HINTS AT POSSIBLE SWAP FOR WSJ REPORTER EVAN GERSHKOVICHGershkovich was arrested last March as Russian authorities leveled dubious espionage charges against him. The Wall Street Journal has also categorically denied the allegations, and the arrest is widely viewed as an attempt to leverage the U.S. into a high-profile prisoner swap. Ambassador to Russia Lynne Tracy has visited Gershkovich in prison and kept his family updated on his condition.

Source: Wall Street Journal March 08, 2024 12:05 UTC