American ambassador to Russia Lynne Tracy was granted access on Monday to jailed Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, the U.S. State Department said, in the second such visit since his pre-trial detention in March on espionage charges he denies.
Tracy met with Gershkovich at Lefortovo Prison in Moscow in what was the first time U.S. Embassy officials were granted consular access since April 17, a State Department spokesperson.
“Ambassador Tracy reports that Mr. Gershkovich is in good health and remains strong, despite his circumstances,” the spokesperson added. “We expect Russian authorities to provide continued consular access.”
A Russian judge on June 22 rejected an application for Gershkovich, 31, to be released from prison while awaiting trial. Tracy after that decision accused Russia of conducting “hostage diplomacy.”…