US reporter charged with spying Russian news agencies
According to Russian news agencies, Moscow has formally charged US journalist Evan Gershkovich with espionage, which he has denied.
The arrest of Wall Street Journal correspondent Evan Gershkovich sparked outrage among media outlets, human rights organizations, and government officials in Washington.
"FSB investigators charged Gershkovich with espionage in the interests of his country," a law enforcement source told the Russian state-run news agency TASS.
According to TASS, "he categorically denied all accusations and stated that he was engaged in journalistic activities in Russia."
The arrest of Gershkovich is seen as a significant escalation of Moscow's crackdown on the media.
His newspaper, one of the most prestigious in the country, "vehemently denies the allegations" levelled against its "trusted and dedicated reporter."
The case has been classified as secret, so the amount of information available is limited.
His arrest also comes at a time when Moscow's relationship with Washington has been severely strained as a result of the Ukraine offensive.
Washington has long accused Moscow of arbitrarily arresting Americans in exchange for the release of Russian detainees.
On Friday, US President Joe Biden called for Gershkovich's release, calling the accusations against him "ridiculous."
Russia said on Thursday that putting pressure on Moscow over the case was "pointless."
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