American journalist Evan Gershkovich has been detained in Russia since March 2023. His parents, Ella Milman and Mikhail Gershkovich, are set to attend President Joe Biden’s State of the Union Address on Thursday, March 7, 2024.
Evan Gershkovich, a 32-year-old American journalist and reporter, covers Russia for The Wall Street Journal. In March 2023, he was arrested in Russia on alleged spying charges. He was accused of alleged espionage and detained by the country’s Federal Security Service (FSB).
Ella Milman and Mikhail Gershkovich have defended their son and are hoping for his freedom. They will attend the State of the Union Address as guests of House Speaker Mike Johnson and meet with other congressional members to highlight their son’s wrongful detention.
“We are grateful to Speaker Johnson for inviting us to attend the State of the Union and for providing the opportunity to highlight Evan’s wrongful detention,” Ella and Mikhail said. “We’re also grateful to President Biden for his continued work on Evan’s behalf. Evan is an American, a beloved son and brother, and we want him home.”
As of March 2024, Evan Gershkovich remains imprisoned in Russia. The Wall Street Journal has denied the allegations against him, and US officials are working to secure his release. The White House has stated that Gershkovich is wrongfully detained.
Congress members, including President Biden and Speaker Johnson, have shown bipartisan support for Evan Gershkovich, emphasizing that journalism is not a crime. The ongoing efforts to bring Evan Gershkovich home reflect the commitment to freedom of the press worldwide.
