Well, buckle up folks because we’ve got a doozy of a story for you. Last month, Mr. Gershkovich found himself in a bit of a pickle when he was arrested in Russia while on a reporting trip in the city of Yekaterinburg. Talk about bad luck. This whole debacle has made things between Washington and Moscow even more tense, and it hasn’t made life any easier for journalists reporting on the country.

But wait, there’s more! A new ad was published in The Journal, The Washington Post, and The New York Times on Thursday, and boy is it a doozy. The ad says that Mr. Gershkovich’s arrest was wrongful and part of a disturbing trend where journalists are harassed, arrested, or worse for doing their job. I mean, come on, reporting is not a crime people!

The ad goes on to sing Mr. Gershkovich’s praises, calling him a distinguished journalist whose coverage has provided an important window into one of the world’s most isolated countries. His detention is not just a loss for his individual publications, but for the people of Russia and society at large. Talk about a bad day at work.

Now, let’s get into the nitty-gritty. The Russian authorities have actually charged Mr. Gershkovich with espionage. Yes, you read that correctly, espionage. His employer, lawyers, and the U.S. government deny the charges, but that hasn’t stopped the Russian officials from playing hardball. The Biden administration has even classified him as “wrongfully detained,” essentially saying that he’s being held as a political prisoner.

Mr. Gershkovich is being held in Lefortovo Prison in Moscow, which sounds like a delightful place to stay if you love isolation and rare visits from lawyers. His appeal for release from pretrial detention was denied last week, so it looks like he’s going to be a long-term guest.

And just when you thought things couldn’t get any crazier, Russia’s foreign minister, Sergey V. Lavrov, suggested this week the possibility of a prisoner swap that would include Mr. Gershkovich. Can you imagine that conversation? “Hey, we’ll give you this journalist if you give us that other guy.” It’s like a messed up game of chicken. Mr. Lavrov also alleged that Mr. Gershkovich and another American prisoner being held in Russia, Paul Whelan, had been caught “when they were committing a crime, receiving material” containing state secrets. But surprise, surprise, Russian officials haven’t provided any evidence to back up their claims about Mr. Whelan either.

So there you have it, folks. Journalism is not for the faint of heart. One minute you’re on a reporting trip, and the next you’re a political prisoner accused of espionage. It’s enough to make you want to switch careers and become a professional couch potato.

Serious News: nytimes