The recent detention of Evan Gershkovich in Russia has brought up again the issue of the situation of American citizens who have been or are presently being held there.
According to Russian official media, Evan Gershkovich, a journalist for The Wall Street Journal, has been imprisoned on espionage-related allegations. In what many observers view as a disturbing trend, Gershkovich’s case is just one of numerous cases of American citizens being detained by Russia.
The names of five Americans who are presently detained by Russia are listed below, along with a brief summary of their cases:
1) Trevor Reed – Reed, a former Marine, was detained in 2019 and accused of attacking police officers when he was studying in Russia. U.S. officials and Reed’s family have argued that he is innocent and that the accusations against him are politically motivated, which has attracted a lot of attention to his case. In 2020, Reed received a nine-year prison term.
Trevor Reed, one of the few people who can understand what Evan Gershkovich is going through, tells me the Russian judicial system is a joke, a facade and “there's no doubt they've basically taken him hostage.” Our full interview: pic.twitter.com/KSFxBD48IM
— Kaitlan Collins (@kaitlancollins) March 31, 2023
2) Paul Whelan – A former Marine, Whelan was detained and accused of spying in Russia in 2018. Insisting that he was in Russia to attend a friend’s wedding, he has maintained his innocence. Several theories have been put up regarding Whelan’s case, with some analysts speculating that he might have been the target of a prisoner swap or used as leverage in diplomatic negotiations. In 2020, he received a 16-year prison term.
Paul Whelan ~ you're not forgotten Brother in Arms pic.twitter.com/rZWcogjXkH
— Steve Retired Texas Pragmatist (@SteveTexasBest) March 9, 2023
Michael Calvey is a well-known American businessman who has spent more than 20 years residing and operating in Russia. He was taken into custody in 2019 and accused of fraud in a case that has drawn much criticism for being politically driven. Calvey has refuted the allegations, and his incarceration has strained commercial ties between the United States and Russia.
4) Ian Patrick Hintergardt: A citizen of the United States, Hintergardt was detained in 2020 and accused of possessing marijuana. Since then, he has been held in detention in Russia and is said to have had health issues. Compared to some of the other cases on this list, Hintergardt’s case has gotten very little attention.
5) Mark Feygin: Feygin is a Russian attorney who has defended a number of prominent political detainees, including Pussy Riot band members. In what his supporters claim is a politically driven attempt to suppress him, he was detained in 2019 and accused with exposing sensitive material. Feygin holds dual citizenship in the US and Russia.
The situations of these five Americans serve as a stark reminder of both how contentious U.S.-Russian relations have become and how challenging it may be for foreigners to deal with domestic legal issues. Evan Gershkovich’s detention has brought the issue back to light, prompting new requests for the US government to take additional steps to safeguard its nationals abroad.