Brittney Griner, who was freed from a Russian penal colony in a prisoner exchange last year, has urged the Biden administration to use “every tool possible” to win the release of a U.S. reporter accused of spying in Russia.
Griner and her wife, Cherelle, posted on Instagram that “our hearts are filled with great concern” for Evan Gershkovich, the journalist arrested by Russia’s FSB security service last week in the Urals city of Yekaterinburg.
The Kremlin says Gershkovich was using journalism as a cover for spying activity — something his newspaper, The Wall Street Journal, has vehemently denied.
Russia has not made public any evidence to support the charges, under which Gershkovich faces up to 20 years in jail. The White House has described the accusations as “ridiculous,” and President Joe Biden has called on Moscow to release him.
The Griners said they were grateful for Biden’s “deep commitment to rescue Americans.” They cited the cases of aid worker Jeff Woodke, freed last month after being kidnapped for more than six years in West Africa, and Paul Rusesabagina, a U.S. resident who returned home last week after being released from prison in Rwanda.
“We call on all of our supporters to both celebrate the wins and encourage the administration to continue to use every tool…
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