“On April 6 … Ryabkov met … Tracy at her request. During the discussion of the issue raised by L. Tracy about the detention of an American citizen E. Gershkovich in Russia, the attention of the head of the diplomatic mission was drawn to the serious nature of the charges brought against him,” the ministry said in a statement.
According to the ministry, the US aims to “pressure the Russian authorities and a court” when “making a lot of noise” about this case.
“The issue of access to him [Gershkovich] by representatives of the American embassy, who were promptly notified of the fact of detention, is being resolved taking into account the existing consular practice and the legislation of the Russian Federation,” the ministry added.
Meanwhile, the Moscow City Court's press service told Sputnik that the cour will consider on April 18 The Wall Street Journal correspondent Evan Gershkovich's appeal against his detention on charges of espionage in Russia.
"The consideration of Gershkovich's appeal is scheduled for April 18," the source said.
On March 30, the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) detained Gershkovich in Yekaterinburg on suspicion of espionage in favor of the United States. According to the FSB, the journalist was collecting classified information about the activities of one of Russia's military-industrial complex firms. Later that day, the Lefortovo District Court of Moscow decided to place Gershkovich in pre-trial detention for two months until May 29.
The Wall Street Journal has denied the allegations of espionage and demanded Gershkovich's immediate release. EU High Representative Josep Borrell, UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres and US President Joe Biden, among many other Western leaders, have condemned the journalist's detention.