THE Wall Street Journal called for the Biden administration to expel Russian journalists or Russia’s ambassador in the United States, as a tit-for-tat move following the arrest of their reporter, Evan Gershkovich.
But US President Joe Biden dismissed the demands. At the same he replied, “let him go,” when asked what his message to Russia was regarding the detained W.S.J. journalist.
Asked if his administration planned to expel diplomats or journalists, Biden said, “that’s not the plan right now.”
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov on Friday said that WSJ’s proposed retaliation would be absurd and wrong and insisted that the reporter had been caught red-handed by Russian authorities.
Peskov said foreign journalists accredited in Russia do not face any restrictions and work perfectly but in the case of Gershkovich.
It is an activity under the guise of journalism, espionage activity in essence.
“In the case of Gershkovich, it is an activity under the guise of journalism, espionage activity in essence,” said Dmitry Peskov, Kremlin spokesman.
In the aftermath of Gershkovich’s arrest, the United States has called upon its citizens traveling to or residing in Russia to leave the said country immediately.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said his country was deeply concerned about the development.
“In the strongest possible terms, we condemn the Kremlin’s continued attempts to intimidate, repress, and punish journalists and civil society voices.”
“We reiterate our strong warnings about the danger posed to U.S. citizens inside the Russian Federation. U.S. citizens residing or traveling in Russia should depart immediately,” said U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken.
“In the strongest possible terms, we condemn the Kremlin’s continued attempts to intimidate, repress, and punish journalists and civil society voices,” Blinken added.
“We reiterate our strong warnings about the danger posed to U.S. citizens inside the Russian Federation. U.S. citizens residing or traveling in Russia should depart immediately,” he said.
The White House also released a similar message, with its secretary, Karine Jean-Pierre, saying that what Russia has done was unacceptable.
