Quigley Statement on Russian Detention of Wall Street Journal Reporter

Today, U.S. Representative Mike Quigley (IL-05), Co-Chair of the Congressional Ukraine Caucus, released the following statement on Russia’s illegal detention of Wall Street Journal reporter and American citizen, Evan Gershkovich:

“Vladimir Putin’s decision to arrest an American journalist in Russia is an escalation not seen between our two countries since the days of the Soviet Union and the Cold War. Freedom of the press is a hallmark of an open society and while Putin may not respect that principle among his own citizens, he must honor it for foreign journalists covering his authoritarian regime. Mr. Gershkovich must be immediately released.

“I am deeply concerned that this detention is the latest salvo in Putin’s efforts to use Americans as leverage in his conflict with Ukraine. He failed to successfully use Britney Griner to degrade our support for Ukraine and he will fail again now.

“My thoughts are with Mr. Gershkovich and his family during this troubling time. I will work with my colleagues and the Biden administration to secure his release and maintain our staunch support for Ukraine’s victory.”