Free Evan Gershkovich: Friend of U.S. reporter jailed in Russia calls for his freedom

Russia has jailed American journalist Evan Gershkovich, accusing him of espionage. His close friend Joshua Yaffa, who writes for The New Yorker, says he is innocent and should not be held "hostage" as part of some larger U.S.-Russia dispute.

#DemocracyNow

[dave.]

America at it again. Do as I say, not as I do. Free Julian Assange first you hypocrite.

[Orto-jjdi]

Well Evan's curiosity perhaps was too strong and he went where he shouldn't have gone to.

[beesplaining]

Free Julian Assange....he's been incarcerated and tortured for 8 years now.

[imsmoking_au]

It gets annoying when everyone that gets arrested in Russia is "innocent" and "unfairly arrested".

Americans drug smuggling and espionage is illegal all over the world.

[Venezolano]

He should have stayed in the USA. He has only himself to blame.

[diIbert]

He's a "journalist" with no footprint online. Must be one of those secret santa journalists. 🎅

[JoscelinTrouwborst]

Allright let's trade him for that Russian.

[basfinnis]

Oh no, this is outrageous. Thank god this doesn't happen in the west 🙄

[mitchellwintercat]

Wasn't he collecting confidential confidential info? If it wasn't CIA subcontracting then report what the info was.

[virgorising]

Oh, I see. You're pulling the gay card now. He was caught red handed. Good luck.

[elkwhistle]

If he's Russian American how come they can't trade to get him or does he have to say that he's guilty to do that?

[Zeitgeist_Dron]

I'm sure Russia have take this on board and is urgently processing his request

[ОксанаБелянская-дл]

Джулиана Ассанжа лучше освободите.У вас прям все невиновны?

[ernestoybarra]

Evan Gershkovich
will remain in Russia. He's not lesbian enough or
🏳️‍🌈

[XOguitargurlOX]

Here I was thinking journalists are supposed to hold the powerful accountable, but everyone is saying "he went somewhere he shouldn't" lol that's kinda their job.

[karl]

This is Evan's fault entirely. When a person is a guest, they should abide by the laws of their host nation. Evan should have known better opposed to trying to get a scoop, spy and in turn break Russian Federation law and think he could get away with it. Evan's own stupid actions put himself in the predicament he finds himself in. He must pay the price for it.

[liegesaboya]

Why DN is always supporting the Nazilensky regime ? I've never seen one footage of the shelling by Kiev over the Russians in east of Ukraine by DN .

[samueldelaespriella]

..free Evan. He is a hostage, not a prisoner.

[Иван-шъ]

Oh lol. I hope he'll be in jail like Viktor But was - about 15 years.

[adamgorelick]

Judging from the comments no one has much sympathy for this guy. If he is just a journalist - as opposed to intelligence asset or operative - what he did may have been reckless, but the same can be said for some of the better journalists.