The United States formally determined Monday that the Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich arrested in Russia on espionage charges has been "wrongfully detained."
The designation elevates the case of Evan Gershkovich in the US government hierarchy and means that a dedicated State Department office will take the lead on securing his release.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced the determination on Monday, saying he condemned the arrest and Russia's repression of independent media.
"Today, Secretary Blinken made a determination that Evan Gershkovich is wrongfully detained by Russia," the department said in a statement. “Journalism is not a crime. We condemn the Kremlin's continued repression of independent voices in Russia, and its ongoing war against the truth."
Russian authorities arrested Gershkovich, 31, in Yekaterinburg, Russia's fourth-largest city, on March 29. He is the first US correspondent since the Cold War to be detained for alleged spying.
The Federal Security Service specifically accused Gershkovich of trying to obtain classified information about a Russian arms factory. The Wall Street Journal has denied the accusations.
The State Department said the US government will provide all appropriate support to Gershkovich and his family and again called for Russia to release him as well as another detained American citizen, Paul Whelan.
Monday's statement from Blinken was the first public comment on the case since Russian news agencies reported on Friday that Gershkovich had been charged with espionage and had entered a formal denial.
The case has caused an international uproar and last Thursday, the US ambassador to Russia and a top Russian diplomat met to discuss the case.
“In the meeting with US Ambassador Lynne T. Tracy, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov stressed the serious nature of the charges against Gershkovich,” the Russian Foreign Ministry said.
Kremlin spokesperson, responding to Washnington's action said the reporter violated Russian law and was caught 'red-handed'. Reuters quoted Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov as saying, "I don't understand what kind of innovations this new regime (Biden administration) is introducing. As for what it means, I don't know." On the espionage charges, Peskov said, "This is what he's suspected of, but of course, the court will make a decision".