FORMER President Donald Trump vowed that he would demand the release of reporter Evan Gershkovich from a Russian prison if he were to win the presidency.
Trump took the debate stage with President Joe Biden in Atlanta, Georgia on Thursday for the first 2024 presidential debate.
Former President Donald Trump has promised to free Wall Street Journal reporter Evan GershkovichEPA/STRINGER
Trump slammed Joe Biden for not getting Gershkovich outREUTERS
During the 90-minute debate, Gershkovich’s plight was spotlighted as his trial in Yekaterinburg, Russia, began.
Gershkovich, a reporter for the Wall Street Journal, was arrested on March 29, 2023, while on a reporting trip in Yekaterinburg.
Russian authorities claimed, without providing evidence, that he was gathering secret information to the US.
Trump declared that he would fight to free Gershkovich on his first day in office.
“Now we have a hostage, the Wall Street Journal reporter. I think [he’s] a good guy,” Trump said, referring to Gershkovich.
“And he’s over there because Putin is laughing at [Biden] probably asking for billions of dollars for the reporter.
“I will have him out very quickly as soon as I take office – before I take office.”
Trump slammed Biden, saying he should have had Gershkovich out “a long time ago.”
SHAM TRIAL
Gershkovich’s trial was held behind closed doors with reporters given only a few minutes inside the courtroom.
Following his arrest, Gershkovich has spent nearly 15 months inside Moscow’s notorious Lefortovo prison.
If found guilty, could face a further 20 years in prison.
A few weeks ago Russia accused Gershkovich of working for the CIA and “collecting secret information” about Uralvagonzavod, a military facility in the Sverdlovsk region.
It was the first time Russian authorities shared details of the accusations against the reporter.
Washington said the charges have “zero credibility” while the Wall Street Journal slammed the trial as “outrageous.”
“Evan Gershkovich is facing a false and baseless charge,” said WSJ’s chief editor Emma Tucker.
Timeline of Evan Gershkovich’s detainment
FALSELY jailed Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich has been detained on baseless accusations of espionage since March, 2023.
Here is a timeline of key events:
Russia’s security service, the FSB, charged him with espionage – a charge that he, the WSJ and the US government deny.
They argue – without evidence – that he collected “information constituting a state secret about the activities of one of the enterprises of the Russian military-industrial complex.”
Day 12: April 10, 2023 – The US designated Gershkovich wrongfully detained and launched effort on Russia to free him.
Day 20: April 18, 2023 – A Moscow court upheld his pre-trial detention, denied him bail and ordered him to be held in the capital’s infamous Lefortovo prison.
Day 55: May 23, 2023 – Gershkovich’s detention was extended until at least August 30.
His parents, Ella Milman and Mikhail Gershkovich, travelled to the hearing and said “any parents who loves their kid would travel to the end of the world to be with them for give minutes.”
Day 76: June 13, 2023 – The White House called on Russia to immediately free Gershkovich and also free former US marine Paul Whelan, who was convicted of espionage in 2020.
Day 85: June 22, 2023 – A Moscow court upheld the extension of Gershkovich’s detention until at least August 30.
Day 100: July 7, 2023 – The world’s press stood for solidarity with the reporter as his shameful detention reached 100 days.
Day 174: September, 19, 2023 – Gershkovich had another appeal for freedom blocked.
Day 195: October 10, 2023 – The US reporter had yet another appeal denied which would see his detention extended until at least November 30.
Day 244: November 28, 2023 – A court ruled Gershkovich would remain in pre-trial detention until at least January 30.
Day 303: January 26, 2024 – The innocent journalist’s time behind bars was extended until the end of March.
Day 316: February 8, 2024 – Vladimir Putin tells US TV host Tucker Carlson a deal could be reached between Russia and the US over Gershkovich.
Day 363: March 26, 2024: Gershkovich’s detention will drag on until June 30 as he nears one year behind bars.
Day 442: June 13, 2024: Russian authorities announce he will stand trial over bogus accusations that the reporter was spying for the CIA
Day 455: June 26, 2024: Closed-door sham trial begins in Yekaterinburg at the Sverdlovsk courthouse with Evan appearing inside a glass cage
“Russia’s latest move toward a sham trial is, while expected, deeply disappointing and still no less outrageous.”
Tucker added that Gershkovich’s “wrongful detention is a blow to press freedom, and it should matter to anyone who values free society.
“We will not rest until he is free.”
More to follow… For the latest news on this story, keep checking back at The U.S. Sun, your go-to destination for the best celebrity news, sports news, real-life stories, jaw-dropping pictures, and must-see videos
Like us on Facebook at TheSunUS and follow us on X (formerly Twitter) at @TheUSSun