Global Media Leaders Call for Gershkovich’s Release

Nearly forty prominent media leaders worldwide joined in defense of Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, sending a formal protest to the Russian Ambassador to the United States, Anatoly Antonov. The action underscored a commitment across global newsrooms to press for Gershkovich’s immediate release and to reject any attempt to criminalize journalism. The message, reported by the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) and corroborated by multiple outlets, emphasized that Gershkovich is a correspondent, not a spy, and should be freed without preconditions. It also called for access to Gershkovich, including permission for a lawful meeting with his employer and a lawyer, underscoring the importance of due process for journalists in constricted environments. In total, 39 chairs and leaders representing media and journalism associations affixed their signatures to the letter, signaling broad, cross-border concern from the press community across North America, Europe, and beyond.