NEW YORK, APRIL 17 – Ahead of World Press Day, more than 40 countries including Italy have signed on to a statement criticizing Russia over Mr. Gershkovich’s detention and protesting Russia’s moves to intimidate the media. The statement, read by the US Permanent Representative to the UN, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, calls on Moscow to “release those they hold on political grounds, and to end the draconian crackdown on freedom of expression, including against members of the media.”
On behalf of the United States and 45 other countries including Italy, U.S. Ambassador to the UN, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, today read a joint statement expressing “solidarity and admiration for journalists and media workers from around the world who often risk their lives to inform us.”
Thomas-Greenfield expressed deep concern over Russia’s arrest of reporter Evan Gershkovich and protested against Russian efforts to restrict and intimidate the media. “Free and independent media play an indispensable role in informing people around the world,” the ambassador said: “We will continue to defend press freedom and the safety of journalists around the world”.
Today the U.S. ambassador to Moscow, Lynne Tracy, announced that she had visited Gershkovich in prison. And the first time a U.S. official has been able to make contact with the reporter since his arrest on March 30. The State Department officially classified Mr. Gershkovich as “wrongfully detained” a week ago and President Biden has called his detention “totally illegal.” (@OnuItalia)