Biden, U.S. Leaders Condemn Russia's Year-Long Imprisonment of American Journalist Evan Gershkovich as Wrongful Bargaining Chip Detention
• President Biden, top U.S. lawmakers, and officials condemn Russia's detention of journalist Evan Gershkovich, calling it wrongful and false. Gershkovich has now spent 1 year in prison.
• Biden says the U.S. will keep working for Gershkovich's release, denounce Russia's attempts to use Americans as bargaining chips, and stand against attacks on the press and journalists.
• Secretary of State Blinken says Russia has provided no evidence against Gershkovich, as he did nothing wrong. He calls on Russia to end detaining people for political leverage.
• Congressional leaders Schumer, McConnell, Johnson, and Jeffries continue to condemn Gershkovich’s “baseless arrest” and “unjust imprisonment.”
• Russia rejected a “significant proposal” for Gershkovich's release in December. Putin suggested openness to a prisoner swap involving him.