Imprisoned Wall Street Journal Reporter’s Father Urges UN Leaders to Stand for Press Freedom and Advocate for Release
The father of Evan Gershkovich, a Wall Street Journal reporter currently imprisoned in Russia on charges of espionage, has called upon world leaders gathering at the United Nations to stand up for press freedom and demand his son’s release. Mikhail Gershkovich, along with his wife and daughter, appeared at the UN headquarters at the invitation of US Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield to bring attention to his son’s nearly six months of arbitrary detention.
Evan Gershkovich’s lawyers argue that the charges against him are patently false and that Russia has failed to present any evidence to support the accusations. The 31-year-old journalist was arrested in March during a reporting trip to Yekaterinburg, a city located 1,200 miles east of Moscow.
Expressing his concerns, Mikhail Gershkovich stated, The past several months have been a nightmare for our family. Despite the difficulties, Evan’s mother, Ella Milman, found comfort in their ability to exchange letters with him. She even shared a lighthearted moment, mentioning how Evan jokes about the prison food resembling her cooking.
Danielle Gershkovich, Evan’s sister, emphasized their plea for world leaders to help secure his release. She emphasized that if it can happen to her brother, it can happen to any journalist simply doing their job of reporting the news.
US Ambassador Thomas-Greenfield echoed the sentiment, urging all UN member nations to join the call for Evan’s release, along with the release of any others wrongfully detained. She affirmed the United States’ commitment to ensuring the safe return of Evan Gershkovich, as well as Paul Whelan, an American serving a 16-year prison sentence in Russia for espionage, a conviction disputed by both him and Washington.
Amidst the upcoming Rosh Hashana holiday, the Jewish Federations of North America has initiated a letter-writing campaign to send cards to Evan Gershkovich, wishing him a Shana tova, or happy new year. This effort reflects how Jewish rituals and unity have previously played a significant role in advocating for the freedom of Soviet Jews during the 1960s.
With an increasing number of journalists facing imprisonment and persecution worldwide, the case of Evan Gershkovich highlights the critical need to safeguard press freedom. As world leaders convene at the United Nations, the call to support Evan’s release resonates strongly, reminding everyone of the importance of upholding the principles of a free press and ensuring the safety and well-being of journalists worldwide.
