JUANA SUMMERS, HOST:

We’re following one other low level for U.S.-Russia relations on this second. Russia has jailed an American reporter for The Wall Avenue Journal on expenses of espionage, and the U.S. is demanding consular entry and solutions. We’re joined now by NPR’s Michele Kelemen to be taught extra about this case. First, Michele, simply what are you able to inform us about this arrest?

MICHELE KELEMEN, BYLINE: Yeah. So Evan Gershkovich was arrested in Yekaterinburg. It is an industrial metropolis within the Urals. The Russians say he was caught red-handed attempting to assemble details about an organization within the navy industrial complicated. He was reportedly engaged on tales a couple of tank manufacturing unit within the space and a Russian mercenary group. The Wall Avenue Journal vehemently denies he was concerned in espionage. And White Home spokesperson Karine Jean-Pierre says President Biden has been briefed on the case, which she described this fashion.

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KARINE JEAN-PIERRE: These espionage expenses are ridiculous. The focusing on of Americans by Russian authorities is unacceptable. We condemn the detention of Mr. Gershkovich within the strongest phrases.

KELEMEN: And that was repeated on the State Division, which says it is attempting to get consular entry to him.

SUMMERS: Michele, what else can we find out about this reporter and his current work?

KELEMEN: So he is 31 years outdated. He joined The Wall Avenue Journal final yr. However he is been in Moscow since 2017, working first for the Moscow Occasions, an English-language paper, after which the AFP, the French information company. And simply this week, he co-authored a bit about how sanctions are actually beginning to have an effect in Russia. It was known as how “Russia’s Financial system Is Beginning To Come Undone.”

SUMMERS: So it feels like despite the fact that the Russians accuse him of espionage, they may even be sad along with his reporting. Michele, what seems to be the Russian play right here?

KELEMEN: It is actually laborious to know this early. I imply, perhaps they’re searching for a prisoner swap. The U.S. traded a Russian arms seller for American basketball star Brittney Griner final yr. The U.S. remains to be attempting to get Paul Whelan out of Russia. And a U.S. courtroom lately indicted a suspected Russian spy. So, , perhaps Russia is searching for a brand new prisoner swap or it would simply be sending a sign to journalists. I talked about this as we speak with Olga Oliker. She’s an analyst with the Worldwide Disaster Group, and this is what she needed to say.

OLGA OLIKER: It’s a terrifying sign on press freedom, on the power for journalists to work in Russia, whether or not they’re Russian or Western, and positively willingness to proceed to choose fights with Western international locations.

KELEMEN: You already know, Juana, Russia’s struggle in Ukraine will not be going effectively. Russia blames the West for arming Ukraine with more and more refined weapons. And whereas Russia is clearly sad with that, Oliker says the Kremlin can be settling in for a protracted struggle, and it sees some home advantages from this.

OLIKER: It justifies the crackdowns and the restrictions on free speech and all of this stuff that have been definitely within the works earlier than the full-scale invasion however which have accelerated, and I actually would say reworked Russia, over the course of the final yr.

KELEMEN: Final yr, Russia put in place some draconian measures to restrict reporters for what they might say concerning the struggle, however this espionage case is basically taking it to a brand new degree.

SUMMERS: Within the few seconds we have now left, is the State Division telling journalists in Russia to depart?

KELEMEN: Nicely, it is telling all Individuals residing or touring to Russia to depart. However the White Home was cautious to not give any particular steering to journalists, saying they know they should do a job.

SUMMERS: NPR’s Michele Kelemen. Thanks.

KELEMEN: Thanks.

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