How exercise and family letters keep WSJ’s Gershkovich strong

Maya Rodriguez of Scripps News sat down with Danielle Gershkovich, sister of detained Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, as her brother’s detention by Russia approaches the one-year mark.

Rodriguez writes, “‘But he jokes and calls me his little sister because he’s taller than me,’ she said with a laugh. ‘We’re so proud of Evan. He’s doing the best he can under the circumstances. I get letters from him, and he’s making me laugh. He teases me. He seems to still have his spirits up. So, we’re incredibly proud he has the strength to do that. But he works very, very hard to maintain just his spirits.’

“She said he does that by going through a daily routine, including exercising in his cell and writing letters to his family and friends. The private letters are a lifeline for both of them, though they are exchanged in an unusual way.

“‘It’s still a little mysterious to me, but I get them like they’re photographed. So, he handwrites them, and then I get a photograph of the letter,’ she said. ‘I’ll write to him about anything. Even things he doesn’t want to hear about, like horror movies I’ve watched. I write about celebrity gossip — just anything I think that might bring a smile to his face. And he’s very funny in the letters. It feels like a Christmas present every time I get one from him.'”

Read more here.