GENEVA (AP) — United Nations human rights experts have declared that Russia violated international law by imprisoning Gershkovich and have called for his immediate release. The Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, consisting of independent experts convened by the U.N.’s top human rights body, criticized the lack of factual or legal basis for the espionage charges against the 32-year-old journalist.
The five-member group highlighted that Gershkovich’s American nationality played a role in his detention, rendering the case discriminatory. Matthew Gillett, chair of the working group, emphasized that their opinion is rooted in the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), which Russia has ratified and is obliged to uphold.
“The covenant is something that Russia has freely signed up to and accepted the obligations under, and therefore as a matter of international law, it is obliged to implement the provisions of the covenant,” Gillett stated in an interview. He added that Russia should provide Gershkovich with proper reparations for his unjust detention.
The U.N. group asserted that, given the arbitrary nature of Gershkovich’s detention, his trial should not proceed. They urged Russia to release him immediately and provide compensation and other reparations in line with international law. Almar Latour, publisher of the Wall Street Journal, praised the U.N. panel’s findings and condemned Gershkovich’s detention as a blatant violation of human rights.
“Evan’s wrongful detention is a flagrant violation of his fundamental human rights. As the U.N. working group recognizes, Russia is violating international law by imprisoning Evan for his journalism, silencing critical reporting, and depriving him of due process and other rights,” Latour said, calling on U.S. and global leaders to intensify efforts to secure Gershkovich’s release.
Gershkovich, a U.S.-born son of USSR immigrants, is the first Western journalist charged with espionage in post-Soviet Russia. He faces up to 20 years in prison if convicted, a near certainty given the Russian courts’ 99% conviction rate. Russian authorities have not provided evidence to support their claim that Gershkovich was gathering secret information for the U.S.
The U.S. State Department has labeled Gershkovich as “wrongfully detained,” committing to actively pursue his release. Russia has hinted at a possible prisoner swap involving Gershkovich but indicated that a verdict must come first, which could take several months.
The detention of Evan Gershkovich by Russia on unsubstantiated espionage charges has drawn sharp condemnation from U.N. human rights experts, who have called for his immediate release and reparations. As the U.S. government and international community continue to press for his freedom, Gershkovich’s case underscores the ongoing challenges and risks faced by journalists worldwide.