Well, hold on to your seats because we’ve got a juicy story for you folks. It looks like Mr. Gershkovich’s recent arrest in Russia sent shockwaves throughout the world, having a chilling effect on reporters everywhere. But don’t worry, the cavalry is on the way! A brand-new ad published in The Journal, The Washington Post, and The New York Times last Thursday is calling out Mr. Gershkovich’s wrongful arrest, saying that it’s just the latest example of how journalists are harassed, arrested or worse just for reporting the news. Honestly, what kind of world are we living in?
The ad goes on to say that “Reporting is not a crime.” And indeed it’s not. Evan has been invaluable in his coverage of one of the world’s most isolated countries, bringing us a rare glimpse into the mysteries of Russia. What loss to the world it is that he’s been taken away from us! This is a loss not just for us newspaper folk, but also for the people of Russia and society at large. Seriously, guys, where’s the justice in all this?
Now listen up, folks, because we’re getting to the nitty-gritty part of the story. Evan’s been formally charged with espionage. In case you don’t know what that means, it’s basically a fancy way of saying that he’s been accused of being a spy. But don’t you worry your pretty little heads, because his employer, his lawyers, and the US government are all singing the same tune: These accusations are hotter than a Miami summer day. The Biden administration has even gone so far as to call him “wrongfully detained,” which is just a nice way of saying that the dude’s being held as a political prisoner. Russian officials, on the other hand, haven’t provided any evidence to suggest otherwise. Hmmm, fishy.
Where is Evan, you might ask? Well, you’re not going to like the answer. He’s being held in Lefortovo Prison in Moscow. And let us tell you, folks, that place isn’t exactly where you want to spend your summer vacation. The inmates there are held in solitary confinement, which is just code for “you’re going to go crazy in a matter of days.” And the cherry on top? Rare visits from lawyers. Ain’t that just grand?
But wait, hold onto your hats, as we’ve got some juicy insider info. Rumor has it that there’s going to be a prisoner swap. That’s right, you heard it here first folks! Russia’s foreign minister, Sergey V. Lavrov, suggested that there’s a chance they might do a trade. Evan for someone else. It’s like a game of ‘you scratch my back, and I’ll scratch yours.’ And in this case, the bargaining chip would be none other than Evan Gershkovich, along with another American prisoner being held in Russia, Paul Whelan. According to Mr. Lavrov, they were caught “when they were committing a crime, receiving material” containing state secrets. Although, let’s be real, we haven’t seen any evidence yet. Maybe it’s all just one big misunderstanding?
In any case, it’s a crazy, wild ride out there in the world of journalism. Who knows what’s going to happen next? We’re on the edge of our seats, eagerly waiting for the next chapter to unfold. Whatever the outcome, one thing is for sure: reporting is not a crime!
Serious News: nytimes