The WSJ editorial office called for the expulsion of the Russian ambassador after the journalist’s arrest in Russia

The editorial board of the American newspaper Wall Street Journal, whose correspondent Evan Hershkovich was arrested the day before and poisoned in a pre-trial detention center in Moscow on charges of espionage, called on the administration of US President Joe Biden to take tough countermeasures against Russia. The Wall Street Journal considers Hershkovich a “hostage” of the Russian authorities, noting that President Vladimir Putin is now responsible for his security.

According to the publication, the Biden administration should put pressure on the Russian authorities to secure the release of the journalist. “The Biden administration needs to consider the possibility of diplomatic and political escalation. The expulsion of the Russian ambassador to the United States, as well as all Russian journalists working here, is the minimum that can be counted on,” the editorial says.

The editors of the Wall Street Journal emphasize that Vladimir Putin apparently believes that he can “abduct Americans with impunity.” The article mentions the exchange of basketball player Brittney Greiner for the convicted arms dealer Viktor Bout in the United States, and it is noted that Washington also failed to secure the release of the American Paul Whelan convicted in Russia. Also mentioned is the incident with the American drone, which was recently actually shot down by a Russian fighter over the Black Sea. “Bandit leaders continue to make bandit concessions if they think that they will get nothing for it,” the newspaper notes.

The Wall Street Journal considers the accusations against its journalist unfounded. Commenting on the article, the press secretary of the Kremlin, Dmitry Peskov, said that Hershkovich was allegedly taken “red handed” and that his case should have nothing to do with “honest journalists”. He did not explain what he meant. The case materials are classified.

Hershkovich was detained on Wednesday in Yekaterinburg. On Thursday, a court in Moscow sent him to a pre-trial detention center. The Russian investigation claims that the journalist collected secret information about one of the enterprises of the military-industrial complex at the behest of the United States. The details of the accusation are not given.

The White House and the US State Department strongly condemned the arrest of an American journalist in Russia. “The persecution of American citizens by the Russian authorities is unacceptable,” the White House said in a statement. It also contains a condemnation of journalists and free press persecuted in Russia.