American journalist Evan Gershkovich has been detained in Russia since March 2023. He was accused of espionage and collecting classified information about Russian military-industrial activities on behalf of the American government.
Despite his continued imprisonment, his parents, Ella Milman and Mikhail Gershkovich, have remained steadfast in their support for their son.
Who are Evan Gershkovich’s parents?
Ella and Mikhail are set to attend President Joe Biden’s State of the Union Address on Thursday, March 7, 2024, as guests of House Speaker Mike Johnson. They will also meet with Johnson ahead of time, along with other guests, to bring attention to Evan’s wrongful detention.
“We are grateful to Speaker Johnson for inviting us to attend the State of the Union and for providing the opportunity to highlight Evan’s wrongful detention,” Ella and Mikhail said in a statement. “Evan is an American, and he was doing his job as a journalist. He is most importantly a beloved son and brother, and we want him home.”
The Wall Street Journal, where Evan worked as a reporter, has vehemently denied the allegations against him, stating that journalism is not a crime. US officials have been working tirelessly to secure Evan’s release, with the White House calling his detention wrongful.
Despite these efforts, Evan remains imprisoned in Russia. The Journal reports that he was on a reporting trip in Yekaterinburg, in the Urals region, when he was detained. The situation has drawn bipartisan support from members of Congress, who are advocating for Evan’s release and condemning the assault on press freedom in Russia.
The upcoming State of the Union Address will serve as a platform to shine a spotlight on Evan’s case and to call for his immediate release. Ella and Mikhail, along with other guests, will make their voices heard on behalf of their son, highlighting the injustice of his continued detention and urging for his safe return home.
