'About time': Internet skeptical as Biden claims he's working to secure Evan Gershkovich's release

WASHINGTON, DC: On the one-year anniversary of Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich's detention in Russia, President Joe Biden affirmed that the US government is diligently working toward securing Gershkovich's release and is "not giving up" in its efforts.

Gershkovich, aged 32, was detained on espionage charges while on a business trip to the Russian city of Yekaterinburg, where he was accused of collecting confidential military information.

The Federal Security Service alleged that he was acting on behalf of the US government to obtain state secrets, despite the absence of any evidence to support this accusation.

Per Fox News, the US government, the Wall Street Journal, and Gershkovich himself have all denied the allegations of espionage levied against him, with US officials asserting that Gershkovich's arrest was carried out on the wrong grounds of suspicion.

Biden reiterates commitment to ensure Evan Gershkovich's release

President Joe Biden said in a statement on Friday, "Journalism is not a crime, and Evan went to Russia to do his job as a reporter —risking his safety to shine the light of truth on Russia’s brutal aggression against Ukraine.”

The Commander-in-Chief continued, "Shortly after his wholly unjust and illegal detention, he drafted a letter to his family from prison, writing: 'I am not losing hope.' As I have told Evan's parents, I will never give up hope either.”

"We will continue working every day to secure his release. We will continue to denounce and impose costs for Russia’s appalling attempts to use Americans as bargaining chips. And we will continue to stand strong against all those who seek to attack the press or target journalists — the pillars of free society," the 81-year-old incumbent Democrat POTUS asserted.

On Friday, the Wall Street Journal posted a blank space on the front page of their newspaper with Gershkovich's image in the space where an article's author would be along with the headline: "His Story Should be Here."

No significant update was provided regarding Gershkovich’s case in a recent court hearing. The presiding judge ordered that he remain in custody until at least June 30, which marks the fifth extension of his detention.

"I admire the hell out of him," Biden told reporters on Friday when asked about Gershkovich's predicament. "We're not giving up."

President Biden expressed the US government's commitment to securing the release of all American citizens who are being held hostage or detained abroad without just cause. Among those currently detained are Alexander Gershkovich and Paul Whelan.

Whelan, a corporate executive from Michigan, was arrested in Russia in 2018 on charges of espionage and was subsequently sentenced to 16 years in prison.

Despite the allegations, Whelan has denied any wrongdoing, maintaining that he had traveled to Moscow to attend a friend's wedding.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken stated that Gershkovich and Whelan have "remained resilient despite the circumstances of living in Russian detention."

"People are not bargaining chips," Blinken remarked in an official statement. "Russia should end its practice of arbitrarily detaining individuals for political leverage and should immediately release Evan and Paul."

Internet skeptical despite Biden's promise

People on X shared their reactions and opinions following Joe Biden's Friday statement affirming that he is working incessantly to secure the release of all American citizens who are being held hostage or arrested in foreign countries with illegitimate causes.

One X user remarked, "I hope that is a right decision to make."

Another said, "Doing all he can to win the next election."

Someone else wrote, "Hopefully he will be more effective than he has been at everything else he has done."

One user snarked, "We know We know ! Just like He’s “working on” Borders’ security."

Another X user remarked, "Let’s hope that Biden is saying it and meaning it. The problem is, you never know with Joe Biden. He will say ANYTHING."

Someone else tweeted, "About time he did something other than eat ice cream and vacation."

This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.