US calls for immediate release of Gershkovich after Russia seeks to extend detention

U.S. President Joe Biden applauds, as an image of Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, who was detained in Russia in March and charged with espionage, is displayed, during the annual White House Correspondents Association Dinner in Washington, U.S., April 29, 2023. REUTERS/Al Drago/File Photo

The United States called for the immediate release of detained Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich on Tuesday after Russia's security service sought to extend his detention.

"He shouldn’t be detained at all. Journalism is not a crime. He needs to be released immediately," White House national security spokesman John Kirby told CNN. "We’re still going to work very, very hard to see if we can get him home with his family where he belongs."

Kirby spoke after investigators from Russia's FSB security service applied to keep Gershkovich, arrested in March on espionage charges, in custody for another three months, according to a report from Russia's state news agency TASS, which cited the court.

FILE PHOTO: Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, who was detained in March while on a reporting trip and charged with espionage, stands behind a glass wall of an enclosure for defendants before a court hearing to consider an appeal against his detention, in Moscow, Russia April 18, 2023. REUTERS/Evgenia Novozhenina/File Photo

U.S. officials are still pressing for consular access to Gershkovich directly with the Russians, Kirby said.

"There is no grounds for denying consular access... We really want to get that consular access going," he said.

(Reporting by Steve Holland and Rami Ayyub; Writing by Doina Chiacu; Editing by Tim Ahmann)