A Nobel prize-winning Russian journalist stated on Friday he didn’t consider that arrested American reporter Evan Gershkovich was a spy, and that he hoped diplomacy might result in his fast launch.
Dmitry Muratov advised Reuters the case in opposition to Gershkovich – a Wall Avenue Journal reporter dealing with espionage expenses that carry as much as 20 years in jail – was a part of a wider pattern to make journalism a “harmful occupation” in Russia.
“I do know Gershkovich. I’ve met him two or 3 times over the past yr. I do know the apply exists of utilizing journalists as spies, intelligence officers and ‘illegals’ (undeclared spies) – this isn’t that type of case,” Muratov stated.
“He was no type of so-called deep-cover operative – utilizing being a journalist and his journalist’s accreditation as a canopy for espionage … Gershkovich was not a spy,” stated Muratov, a co-winner of the Nobel Peace Prize in 2021 for his efforts to defend press freedom in Russia.
He was talking outdoors a closed court docket listening to in Moscow on Friday within the case of Vladimir Kara-Murza, an opposition politician dealing with expenses together with state treason and spreading false details about the armed forces.
Muratov additionally cited the case of Ivan Safronov, a former journalist sentenced to 22 years in jail for treason final yr.
“At each flip, we’re being charged with espionage and treason. It is a pattern – to point out that journalism is a harmful occupation … each for Russian and different journalists.”
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Muratov was editor-in-chief of the unbiased newspaper Novaya Gazeta, which has seen a number of of its reporters killed within the final twenty years, and had its registration revoked final yr after Russia went to warfare in Ukraine. Greater than 260 publications have been closed, blocked or de-registered since then, he stated.
“I do not actually perceive how, provided that pattern and the shortage of media competitors, you possibly can maintain the elections that President Vladimir Putin introduced for 2024,” he stated.
“Does it imply they’re going to go forward with out troublesome matters, discussions, candidate programmes? I am beginning to not perceive how that may work.”
Muratov stated he was conscious of the “well-liked idea” that Gershkovich had been seized as a bargaining chip for Moscow to make use of in a prisoner trade with the USA, although he didn’t say if he believed that himself.
He stated he very a lot hoped that “by means of back-channel diplomacy”, Gershkovich would quickly be freed.