The Wall Street Journal newsroom celebrated with joy and relief upon hearing the official word that Evan Gershkovich had been released from Russian custody after a 16-month-long pressure campaign. Gershkovich, a 32-year-old Journal reporter, was wrongfully detained and imprisoned by Vladimir Putin’s regime. He was arrested last March on charges of espionage and sentenced to 16 years in a harsh penal colony after a sham trial. Despite worsening conditions for journalists and human rights advocates in Russia, Gershkovich’s colleagues worked tirelessly to keep his story in the public eye and advocate for his release.
The Journal made a powerful statement on its front page about Gershkovich’s detention on the one-year anniversary, intentionally leaving a large section blank to represent the missing journalism during his imprisonment. The newspaper’s employees held read-a-thons, global runs, and social media campaigns to draw attention to their colleague’s plight. Behind the scenes, The Journal worked with President Joe Biden and his administration to secure Gershkovich’s release. Their persistent efforts paid off when Gershkovich, along with 22 other detainees, were exchanged in a prisoner swap between the U.S. and Russia.
The CEO of News Corporation, which owns The Journal, expressed gratitude to the U.S. government for their efforts in securing Gershkovich’s release. The Murdochs, who control the company, were pleased that Gershkovich would be reunited with his loved ones. The newspaper’s editor-in-chief thanked Biden for his determination to bring Evan home rather than see him sent to a Russian work camp. However, Tucker and the newspaper’s publisher strongly criticized Putin and his regime for orchestrating Gershkovich’s wrongful imprisonment as part of an assault on the free press and truth.
Despite his ordeal, Gershkovich never lost his spirit as a journalist. In an 8,000-word opus detailing his experience and the efforts to bring him home, it was revealed that Gershkovich requested an interview with Putin before leaving his detention. The ordeal underscored the challenges journalists face in repressive regimes like Russia and the importance of press freedom. The Journal’s tireless advocacy for Gershkovich’s release and their collaboration with the U.S. government ultimately led to his freedom, but the fight against unjust imprisonment of journalists continues both in Russia and around the world.
