A global coalition of democratic countries that champions press freedom has condemned Russia’s arrest of Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich and called for his immediate release from custody.
Journal reporter Paul Vieira reports, “The executive arm of the Media Freedom Coalition, a partnership of 51 countries from six continents, said in a statement scheduled for release Wednesday that Russia is using its authority to intimidate and harass journalists for their critical reporting in the country.
“‘The detention of journalists under the guise of espionage charges is troubling and undermines the basic principles of democracy and rule of law,’ said the statement viewed by the Journal. ‘It is imperative that journalists are able to work independently and without fear of spurious charges being brought against them.’
“…Canada and the Netherlands are the coalition’s co-chairs. The six other members of the coalition’s executive group are the U.S., U.K., Germany, the Czech Republic, Estonia and Ghana.”
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