Tomorrow will mark one year since our colleague, Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, was wrongfully detained by the Russian government. It comes days after Evan’s pretrial detention was yet again extended, this time until late June. It’s a grim occasion that we mark as a news organization and alongside Evan’s family and friends.
On March 29, 2023, Evan was on a reporting trip in Yekaterinburg where he was arrested and charged with espionage, a charge that he, The Wall Street Journal, and the U.S. government all vehemently deny. In fact, Evan, who was accredited by Russia’s Foreign Ministry to report in the country, was doing his job as a journalist when he was taken hostage. An excellent reporter who brought depth and insight to his reporting from Russia, Evan has become a pawn in a geopolitical system that has kept him from his family, his friends, and his colleagues.
The past year has been a challenging one marked by perpetual activity – including what you see this week – but without the one thing we’re all working toward: Evan’s freedom. We will continue our efforts until Evan is released and back home.
As we reflect on what we have learned, a few things stand out.
First, Evan’s family is remarkable. His parents, Ella and Mikhail, and sister Danielle have all not only weathered this unthinkable situation, but they have also demonstrated both grace and grit throughout this past year. In doing so, they have emerged as incredible advocates for Evan and have unknowingly become pillars of strength for all of us at Dow Jones and The Wall Street Journal. It has been an honor to get to know them and work alongside them.
We also have been overwhelmed by the support for Evan shown by DCN members, other news organizations and media companies around the world. Regardless of publication or byline, the mission of any credible news organization is to not only report the truth, but to staunchly defend it. Evan’s detention is a call for those defenders to take action, and we couldn’t be more thankful that our colleagues in this vast industry have answered loudly and consistently.
In addition, we have been extremely grateful for the bipartisan support in Washington for Evan and his case, and for the support from governments around the world. The absence of a free press brings consequences, not just for the Journal or the media industry, but to free societies everywhere. Evan’s voice has been silenced, and it is our duty to be as loud as possible to make sure he gets it back.
As we mark one year and continue to fight for Evan, on behalf of all of us at Dow Jones and The Wall Street Journal, thank you for your ongoing support. We encourage you to learn more about Evan, his reporting and our efforts to free him at wsj.com/evan. Use the #IStandWithEvan hashtag on your social media posts to keep Evan’s cause top of mind. Please, continue to keep Evan’s message front and center in the days and weeks ahead, and join us in demanding his immediate release.