US declares WSJ reporter Evan Gershkovich 'wrongfully detained' by Russia

The US State Department has designated Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich as "wrongfully detained" by Russian authorities, allowing US officials to work collaboratively across agencies to secure his release. Gershkovich was detained on March 29 in Yekaterinburg and was formally charged with espionage last week. The Wall Street Journal and Gershkovich have denied the accusations. Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle have called on Russia to release Gershkovich and former Marine Paul Whelan, who was arrested in Russia on espionage charges in 2018.