Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov Sunday, calling for the “immediate release” of two Americans currently detained in Russia, the State Department <a href="https://www.state.gov/secretary-blinkens-call-with-russian-foreign-minister-lavrov-9/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">announced</a> in a statement. 
Blinken demanded the release of Evan Gershkovich, an American reporter for The Wall Street Journal, and Paul Whelan, a U.S. Marine veteran who has been detained in the country since 2018. Gershkovich was arrested last week on accusations of espionage by Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB). 
“Secretary Blinken conveyed the United States’ grave concern over Russia’s unacceptable detention of a U.S. citizen journalist,” the State Department readout said. “The Secretary called for his immediate release. Secretary Blinken further urged the Kremlin to immediately release wrongfully detained U.S. citizen Paul Whelan.”
“The Secretary and Foreign Minister Lavrov also discussed the importance of creating an environment that permits diplomatic missions to carry out their work,” the statement added. 
On March 29, in the first arrest of an American journalist on espionage charges since 1986, Gershokovich was detained in Yekaterinburg, located in the Ural Mountains, while on a reporting trip, <a href="https://www.wsj.com/articles/blinken-russian-foreign-minister-discuss-detained-wsj-reporter-evan-gershkovich-19c86931" target="_blank" rel="noopener">according</a> to The Wall Street Journal. 
Whelan is currently <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/american-wall-street-journal-reporter-arrested-in-russia-after-being-accused-of-spying" target="_blank" rel="noopener">serving</a> a 16-year prison sentence in a penal colony on espionage charges, accusations which Whelan denies and the U.S. government says are baseless. 
“I spoke with Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov today to convey our grave concern over Russia’s unacceptable detention of a U.S. citizen journalist,” Blinken posted on Twitter Sunday. “I called for his release and for the release of wrongfully detained U.S. citizen Paul Whelan.”
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
I spoke with Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov today to convey our grave concern over Russia’s unacceptable detention of a U.S. citizen journalist. I called for his release and for the release of wrongfully detained U.S. citizen Paul Whelan.
&mdash; Secretary Antony Blinken (@SecBlinken) <a href="https://twitter.com/SecBlinken/status/1642536147166412800?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 2, 2023</a></blockquote>
In a statement of their own, the Russian Foreign Ministry claimed the United States was politicizing Gershokovich’s detention, saying, “it is unacceptable for officials in Washington and the western media to whip up a stir with the clear intention of giving this case a political colouring.” 
<a class="c-link c-link--focus-visible" href="https://onelink.to/dwapp" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-stringify-link="https://onelink.to/dwapp" data-sk="tooltip_parent" aria-describedby="sk-tooltip-11850">CLICK HERE TO GET THE DAILY WIRE APP</a>
&#8220;Blinken&#8217;s attention was drawn to the need to respect the decisions of the Russian authorities, taken in accordance with the law and international obligations of the Russian Federation,&#8221; the foreign ministry said. 
Russia has yet to provide any <a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/us/russias-lavrov-tells-blinken-its-unacceptable-politicise-case-detained-wsj-2023-04-02/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">evidence</a> for its allegations against Gershkovich but claimed he was “caught red-handed while trying to obtain secret information, collecting data constituting a state secret under the guise of a journalistic status.”
“In the light of the established facts of the illegal activities of the U.S. citizen … his further fate will be determined by the court,” the foreign ministry added. 
Gershkovich faces up to 20 years in prison, <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2023/04/02/business/media/evan-gershkovich-wsj-reporter-russia.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">according</a> to The New York Times. The Wall Street Journal “vehemently <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/american-wall-street-journal-reporter-arrested-in-russia-after-being-accused-of-spying" target="_blank" rel="noopener">denies</a>” the allegations, as did Gershkovich in a <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2023/03/31/us/politics/russia-evan-gershkovich-arrest-wsj-reporter.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">court</a> appearance last week. 
Biden <a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-russia-wall-street-journal-reporter-86feb85c963637a8143c191fd45b1551" target="_blank" rel="noopener">told</a> reporters on Friday that his message to Russia regarding Gershkovich was “let him go.” As of Sunday, American officials have yet to receive <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2023/04/02/politics/evan-gershkovich-russia-wsj-blinken-whelan/index.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">consular</a> access to the detained journalist to determine his condition. The conversation between Blinken and Lavrov was just the <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2023/04/02/politics/evan-gershkovich-russia-wsj-blinken-whelan/index.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">third</a> since Russia&#8217;s invasion of Ukraine last year. 

<script async src="https://www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<script async src="https://www.tiktok.com/embed.js"></script><div data-widget-host="revcontent" data-pub-id="165152" data-widget-id="290588"></div><script src="https://delivery.revcontent.com/165152/290588/widget.js"></script>

Blinken Calls For ‘Immediate Release’ Of American Reporter And Paul Whelan In Call With Russian Counterpart

South Korea Warns U.S. Of Possible ‘Hamas-Style’ Attack From North Korea

Trump Says Chinese President Will See A ‘Feeble And Compromised Politician’ In Biden At Upcoming Meeting

Toilet Paper Replaced With Framed Photos Of Product In D.C. Drugstore As Retail Theft Soars

5 Republican Florida State Legislators Switch DeSantis Endorsements To Trump

GOP Senator Warns Of China’s Ambitions, Says ‘The Dynamic Has Changed Dramatically’

Florida Sen. Rick Scott Endorses Trump For President, Says GOP Should ‘Unite’

News

Antony Blinken

Global Politics

Politics

Prisoners

Russia

Wall Street Journal

A video goes viral showing a baby being refused his mother by two gay "dads". This is just the tip of the iceberg, which is why we will have an important discussion today about surrogacy. 

Hour 1

The Matt Walsh Show

Ep. 1765 - This Video Is One Of The Worst Things I've Seen In A Long Time 

The Strait of Hormuz officially opens for business (kind of), the Pope makes “shocking” comments on immigration, and President Trump promises UFO disclosure at TPUSA. 


The Michael Knowles Show

Ep. 1956 -  Pope Leo's "SHOCKING" Immigration Comments EXPLAINED

A false miscreed has corrupted our leadership class.


The Andrew Klavan Show

Ep. 1275 - Dumb, Dumber and Progressive

President Trump announces a 10-day ceasefire between Lebanon and Israel, a murder-suicide involving former Democratic Lieutenant Governor Justin Fairfax shakes Virginia, and France and Britain hold a conference to secure the Strait of Hormuz – after the Iranian conflict ends. Get the facts first with Morning Wire.

- - -

Ep. 2738

- - -

Wake up with new Morning Wire merch: https://bit.ly/4lIubt3

- - -

Today's Sponsors:

Alliance Defending Freedom - Visit https://JoinADF.com/WIRE or text 'WIRE' to 83848 to learn more.

Pocket Hose - Text MORNING to 64000 to get a FREE pocket pivot and their 10-pattern sprayer with the purchase of ANY size Copper Head hose. Message and data rates may apply.

Morning Wire

U.S. Expands Hormuz Blockade & VA Fairfax Deaths Investigated | 4.17.26

U.S. Expands Hormuz Blockade & VA Fairfax Deaths Investigated | 4.17.26 [Member Exclusive]

A ceasefire goes into effect between Israel and Lebanon, a tragic murder-suicide rocks Virginia, and Dairy Queen deploys AI in the drive-thru. Get the facts first with Evening Wire.
- - -
Ep. 2737
- - -
Wake up with new Morning Wire merch: https://bit.ly/4lIubt3 
- - -
Today’s Sponsor:

Alliance Defending Freedom - Visit https://JoinADF.com/WIRE or text “WIRE” to 83848 to learn more.


Evening Wire: Lebanon Ceasefire Begins & Murder-Suicide Rocks VA | 4.16.26

The Pendragon Cycle

Menu

— News —

Blinken Calls For ‘Immediate Release’ Of American Reporter And Paul Whelan In Call With Russian Counterpart