On Wednesday, the Deputy Foreign Minister of Russia stated that they had not provided consular services to US journalist Evan Gershkovich. Gershkovich was arrested on charges of espionage. Gershkovich denies the allegations.
The US State Department has requested consular access to Gershkovich since learning about his arrest.
State-run agencies cited Sergei Ryabkov, the deputy foreign minister, as saying that they are reviewing the issue of consular access . In addition they are acting in accordance with their laws while taking into account consular conventions.
“We won’t tolerate any attempts to put pressure” on Russia, he added.
Russia had last week charged Gershkovich with spying, in a case certain to worsen Moscow’s diplomatic feud with Washington over the war in Ukraine and likely to further isolate Russia.
The newspaper denied the allegations and demanded the immediate release of “trusted and dedicated reporter” Evan Gershkovich. The White House said the State Department was in direct contact with the Russian government over his detention and urged US citizens living or travelling in Russia to depart immediately.
“These espionage charges are ridiculous. At a news briefing, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre stated that the Russian government’s targeting of American citizens is unacceptable.
31-year-old journalist Evan Gershkovich, who has been working in Russia for six years.
On Tuesday, US President Joe Biden declared Gershkovich’s imprisonment “illegal” after the State Department classified the reporter as “wrongfully detained”.
Ryabkov said that “for us, the status assigned in Washington does not matter”.
Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova slammed the “hype by US officials and Western media around Gershkovich”.
