Lawyers for Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich were seeking to meet with him in Russia, where he was arrested last week and accused of spying.
Ann Simmons of The Journal reports, “Under Russian law, defendants are guaranteed a defense lawyer and regular contact with their legal team. But Russian authorities sometimes withhold access and make communications difficult.
“Russian authorities have told lawyers for Mr. Gershkovich that they are to be allowed to meet him on Tuesday afternoon at the Lefortovo prison in Moscow. Representatives from the U.S. Embassy haven’t been granted consular access to Mr. Gershkovich.
“The U.S. government has demanded Mr. Gershkovich’s immediate release. White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre has told reporters that Mr. Gershkovich’s case is ‘a priority for this president. It is a priority for the National Security Council. It is a priority for the State Department.'”
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