#POTUS Joe Biden said on Fri the US will impose costs for Russia's "appalling attempts" to use Americans as bargaining chips in a stmnt to mark the 1-yr anniversary of WSJ reporter Gershkovich's arrest in Russia.
Gershkovich, 32, was the 1st US #journalist arrested on spying charges in Russia since the #ColdWar when he was detained by the #FSB on Mar 29 last yr.
"As I have told Evan's parents, I will never give up hope either. We will continue working every day to secure his release," #Biden said in a stmnt…that called the #journalist's detention "wholly #unjust & #illegal."
"We will continue to denounce & impose costs for #Russia's appalling attempts to use Americans as bargaining chips," Biden added.
The Kremlin said on Thurs complete silence was needed when it came to discussions about possible prisoner exchanges involving #EvanGershkovich.
Asked about when a court would hear #EvanGershkovich's case or whether there would be a prisoner exchange, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry #Peskov told reporters: "We do not have information about the court - it is not our prerogative."
"As for exchange matters, we have repeatedly stressed that there are certain contacts, but they must be carried out in absolute silence," Peskov said, adding that public remarks were a hindrance.
In their stmnts, #Biden & Blinken also condemned the detention of #PaulWhelan, an ex-Marine arrested in Moscow in 2018 & sentenced to 16 yrs in prison on spying charges in 2020. He & the US govt deny the charges.
"To Evan, to Paul Whelan, & to all Americans held hostage or wrongfully detained abroad: We are w/you. And we will never stop working to bring you home," Biden said.
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