We join the voices of fellow journalists, fellow Jews, fellow Americans and fellow human beings in calling for the immediate release of Evan Gershkovich, the Wall Street Journal writer detained in Russia on trumped up charges of espionage. The Journal denies that Gershkovich is a spy and the US government calls him “wrongfully detained.” Their word is enough for us — as are Gershkovich’s own. Having read his reporting, we feel confident in the assessment that Gershkovich was in Russia to do one thing only — provide nuanced reporting on a country to which he has strong ties and in whose language he is fluent.
By all accounts from friends, colleagues and family, Gershkovich is a thoughtful, optimistic journalist. To get a sense of his personality, consider his dark humor, a trait associated with the Russian people. Gershkovich has even managed to joke with his mother about prison food: “Mom,” he wrote in a letter home earlier this month, “you unfortunately, for better or worse, prepared me well for jail food.”
His background is similar to that of many post-Soviet Jews. He retains a meaningful connection to the cultural background of his parents, seeking to leverage that intimate understanding in telling the story of a highly complicated country. His reporting is stellar, rooted in facts, absent editorializing, relying on interviews, speaking to the decision makers, the opposition and the man on the street. No doubt, it is precisely the quality of his reporting — capturing the nuances of the country — that commended him to Putin as a target.
We are relieved that on April 17, close to three weeks after his unlawful detention, Gershkovich was finally permitted a visit from US Amb. to Russia Lynne Tracey. Shereported that the prisoner was “in good health and remains strong.” We remain hopeful that this pivotal step will lead to Gershkovich’s release in full health.
We admire Gershkovich’s dedication to his craft — and to his love of Russia and the Russian people. It has become clear that being an American of any note in Russia at this time poses a grave danger. As Russia seeks to project power in the face of its catastrophic invasion of Ukraine, foreigners are becoming currency, either to force prisoner swaps or as mere show. We fear that Russia will attempt to maximize its return for this innocent soul. Let us not forget that former US Marine Paul Whelan remains imprisoned in Russia, and Gershkovich is only one of at least 19 foreign journalists imprisoned in Russia, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists.
Redemption of captives is one of the great mitzvahs. We urge rabbis to elevate this vital commandment in their congregants’ thoughts, so that calls to free Evan Gershkovich ring out in Jewish communities across the country.
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