One year after the WSJ reporter was arrested for ‘espionage’ in Russia, his friends tell The Free Press he feels ‘deep responsibility’ for the country he loves.
Mr. Gersovich, a foreign national of the nation providing over $100 billion of support and weapons to Russia's enemy at war, went to report on active military operations.
The last time the USA saw a similar situation to Russia's with Gersovich was WW2. Here? USA incarcerated German and Japanese CITIZENS en masse just because. USA took their property. We would have thrown away the key for as long as we were at war.
Giggling. This is the "Free Press"? This missive could have been cut and pasted from a U.S. State dept press release. Let's be clear, I do not believe the WSJ or our govt - they lie to us all the time. In fact, both institutions have publicly aligned with censorship and suppressing dissent (WSJ was very different 20 years ago...). Our intel services would see Evan as a perfect candidate, obviously his family are big Russian dissidents. He's the prototype of who the CIA would recruit and field as a spy. They look to recruit guys like him while in university. They so so 'softly' and he's not spirited away to a CIA training camp. Rather, he provides useful information when he can, and helps them when asked. The CIA has done this with many journalists internationally, it's well known. Why am I asked presumptively to accept he's not a spy? What, cuz the WSJ and U.S. govt says so? Bwahahahahahah.
One would think doing 'heterodox' journalism would require questioning the status quo a bit more.
Be clear, we are locking people up for speech in this nation for their political beliefs (where's the outrage about Peter Navarro's imprisonment?). Our DoJ is a nightmare of abuse and improper conduct against the political enemies of our elite. Our CIA and NatSec establishment are rabid, frothing at the mouth haters of Russia (in part to cover up for how badly they missed China, fyi) and have provoked Russia into war in Ukraine. They are not 'the good guys'. Flacking for them makes you one of them...
How about a little more reporting on the possibility of Evan being a spy? Actual investigative journalism? Or is mere posing and spewing regime approved agitprop sufficient?
It's obvious that Gershkovich is being held in order for Putin to release him either the day Trump wins the White House or the day he moves in. Trump and his puppeteer Putin are setting this up on the model of Iran's working with Reagan to humiliate their mutual enemy Carter.
Whenever Russia or another country pulls a stunt like this, the Feds should do a search to locate every child of every politician and wealthy, connected person in the US on a student or work visa.
Then, they notify their schools and employers, knock on their doors and tell them that, due to the unlawful detention of whoever, their visa has been revoked, effective immediately, and they have 48 hours to get out of the US. Shrieking and wailing results. Phones start ringing in government offices from irate power brokers. Headaches and grief from the staff and the people keeping him in power and lining his pockets. Simplistic? Maybe. But is worth the aggravation?
The situations, in my opinion, are not different. Gonzalo Lira was a US citizen journalist not only arrested but also killed in Ukraine. Where’s the outcry? Where’s the outcry regarding the detainment of Jan 6 defendants and the blatant disregard of the Bill of Rights?
Go ahead - bash Russia and keep ignoring what our government is doing in plain sight.
I've been following any news of Gershkovich since his arrest. I have a 28 year old daughter and, as a mother, it pains me to think of this unlawful imprisonment and what he and his family must have to endure every day. I sincerely hope he will be released soon and that his mind and body have not been severely damaged by this cruelty.
It is past time for the US to start playing as dirty as its adversaries. In these cases the moral high ground - which involves paying thuggish dictators billions of dollars or releasing actual criminals in exchange for innocent American citizens - is no longer working. Detain some very high level Russian /Iranian government supporters in trumped up charges of treason etc, and then facilitate the exchange.
Russians have no limit, sick mentality but if you engage deeply with them you are putting yourself in harms way too have to know the risks. Had a crazy notion is it possible Russian agent(s) accessed Alec Baldwins movie set and put the live bullets in the gun, to undermine him from lampooning Trump on SNL during run up to election? Sounds crazy but they also spread novichok and polonium around England
The difference between Gershkovich and Griner is clear. Gershkovich was a reporter doing his job and is innocent of spying. Griner was guilty of smuggling drugs into a country where she knew the drugs were illegal. That Griner was exchanged for a Russian arms dealer who facilitated terrorism was a crime. US Marine Paul Whelan remains in Russian custody going on six years.
Agreed. This is the first FP article I haven’t clicked the Like button for. What does it tell us? Where is the analysis? I know Peter will never criticize Biden but why can’t our administration try to help Evan? Or our state department? Could it be that the weakness of this administration is provocative? Could it be that out navel gazing had left a giant gaping hole in the world? Could it be that our administration is the laughing stock of the whole world? Maybe on biased. Probably. But this feels like the elephant in the room to me. No pun intended.
Just do away with labels of left and right if you cannot apply them equally. Take a look inside the Fulton County prison. The history of prisoner deaths and mistreatment is eye opening. J6 protesters being treated as treasonous in their charges and disposition is ridiculous. A riot that occurred on capitol grounds should not have made it any different than any other protests or riots seen around the country. The resulting actions and charges by the FBI have been appalling. Justice is not blind in America.
My wife remembers growing up in the 1970's listening to her Russian born "bubbie" (grandmother) tell her never to visit Russia because they will "keep you". She thought her grandmother was crazy. She wasn't.
Friends don't take their children to Russia to visit their grandmother, because they are afraid that these two teenage boys who are US citizens will be kidnapped to serve in the Russian army. It also seems like a reasonable fear.
Mr. Gersovich, a foreign national of the nation providing over $100 billion of support and weapons to Russia's enemy at war, went to report on active military operations.
The last time the USA saw a similar situation to Russia's with Gersovich was WW2. Here? USA incarcerated German and Japanese CITIZENS en masse just because. USA took their property. We would have thrown away the key for as long as we were at war.
So sad if this is true, freedom is for sale! The pawn of political foes!
Giggling. This is the "Free Press"? This missive could have been cut and pasted from a U.S. State dept press release. Let's be clear, I do not believe the WSJ or our govt - they lie to us all the time. In fact, both institutions have publicly aligned with censorship and suppressing dissent (WSJ was very different 20 years ago...). Our intel services would see Evan as a perfect candidate, obviously his family are big Russian dissidents. He's the prototype of who the CIA would recruit and field as a spy. They look to recruit guys like him while in university. They so so 'softly' and he's not spirited away to a CIA training camp. Rather, he provides useful information when he can, and helps them when asked. The CIA has done this with many journalists internationally, it's well known. Why am I asked presumptively to accept he's not a spy? What, cuz the WSJ and U.S. govt says so? Bwahahahahahah.
One would think doing 'heterodox' journalism would require questioning the status quo a bit more.
Be clear, we are locking people up for speech in this nation for their political beliefs (where's the outrage about Peter Navarro's imprisonment?). Our DoJ is a nightmare of abuse and improper conduct against the political enemies of our elite. Our CIA and NatSec establishment are rabid, frothing at the mouth haters of Russia (in part to cover up for how badly they missed China, fyi) and have provoked Russia into war in Ukraine. They are not 'the good guys'. Flacking for them makes you one of them...
How about a little more reporting on the possibility of Evan being a spy? Actual investigative journalism? Or is mere posing and spewing regime approved agitprop sufficient?
It's obvious that Gershkovich is being held in order for Putin to release him either the day Trump wins the White House or the day he moves in. Trump and his puppeteer Putin are setting this up on the model of Iran's working with Reagan to humiliate their mutual enemy Carter.
Whenever Russia or another country pulls a stunt like this, the Feds should do a search to locate every child of every politician and wealthy, connected person in the US on a student or work visa.
Then, they notify their schools and employers, knock on their doors and tell them that, due to the unlawful detention of whoever, their visa has been revoked, effective immediately, and they have 48 hours to get out of the US. Shrieking and wailing results. Phones start ringing in government offices from irate power brokers. Headaches and grief from the staff and the people keeping him in power and lining his pockets. Simplistic? Maybe. But is worth the aggravation?
The situations, in my opinion, are not different. Gonzalo Lira was a US citizen journalist not only arrested but also killed in Ukraine. Where’s the outcry? Where’s the outcry regarding the detainment of Jan 6 defendants and the blatant disregard of the Bill of Rights?
Go ahead - bash Russia and keep ignoring what our government is doing in plain sight.
Whataboutisms are strong in the comments section for this article.
I've been following any news of Gershkovich since his arrest. I have a 28 year old daughter and, as a mother, it pains me to think of this unlawful imprisonment and what he and his family must have to endure every day. I sincerely hope he will be released soon and that his mind and body have not been severely damaged by this cruelty.
It is past time for the US to start playing as dirty as its adversaries. In these cases the moral high ground - which involves paying thuggish dictators billions of dollars or releasing actual criminals in exchange for innocent American citizens - is no longer working. Detain some very high level Russian /Iranian government supporters in trumped up charges of treason etc, and then facilitate the exchange.
Russians have no limit, sick mentality but if you engage deeply with them you are putting yourself in harms way too have to know the risks. Had a crazy notion is it possible Russian agent(s) accessed Alec Baldwins movie set and put the live bullets in the gun, to undermine him from lampooning Trump on SNL during run up to election? Sounds crazy but they also spread novichok and polonium around England
The difference between Gershkovich and Griner is clear. Gershkovich was a reporter doing his job and is innocent of spying. Griner was guilty of smuggling drugs into a country where she knew the drugs were illegal. That Griner was exchanged for a Russian arms dealer who facilitated terrorism was a crime. US Marine Paul Whelan remains in Russian custody going on six years.
Whelan v. Griner is an appalling travesty of what any nation should be.
Griner could have gotten time like that smuggling into quite a few nations, including the USA.
thank you for the Paul Whelan reminder!
If only Peter and Oliver could vacation the same week.
Agreed. This is the first FP article I haven’t clicked the Like button for. What does it tell us? Where is the analysis? I know Peter will never criticize Biden but why can’t our administration try to help Evan? Or our state department? Could it be that the weakness of this administration is provocative? Could it be that out navel gazing had left a giant gaping hole in the world? Could it be that our administration is the laughing stock of the whole world? Maybe on biased. Probably. But this feels like the elephant in the room to me. No pun intended.
Just do away with labels of left and right if you cannot apply them equally. Take a look inside the Fulton County prison. The history of prisoner deaths and mistreatment is eye opening. J6 protesters being treated as treasonous in their charges and disposition is ridiculous. A riot that occurred on capitol grounds should not have made it any different than any other protests or riots seen around the country. The resulting actions and charges by the FBI have been appalling. Justice is not blind in America.
Depending where you rioted, Kamala Harris would pay your bail! Sweet deal as long as you’re mad about the right things!
Good story, and further proof of the perversion of democracy and the rule of law that is modern Russia which is still under the rule of a Tsar.
My wife remembers growing up in the 1970's listening to her Russian born "bubbie" (grandmother) tell her never to visit Russia because they will "keep you". She thought her grandmother was crazy. She wasn't.
Yes. I’m sorry the reporter found out first hand what his parents have always known.
Friends don't take their children to Russia to visit their grandmother, because they are afraid that these two teenage boys who are US citizens will be kidnapped to serve in the Russian army. It also seems like a reasonable fear.
If only he were able to drop baskets from the 3 point line he'd be home by now.
Played for UCLA and shoplifted...amazing how the athletes are released even when they did commit a crime and can be worthy of an arms dealer trade.