By Chernor Alimamy Kamara
The Sierra Leone Association of Journalists (SLAJ) has joined growing calls by media organizations and journalists across the world for the immediate release of US Wall Street Journal Journalist, Evan Gershkovich.
According to a press statement by SLAJ dated 20th April 2023, the 31 year- old Gershkovich, was arrested on 29th March 2023 and detained in Russia on charges of espionage. Russian authorities claimed that he was trying to obtain classified defence information for the US government and that he could face up to 20 years in prison if found guilty of the charge.
He is said to have however denied any wrongdoing.
SLAJ President Ahmed Sahid Nasrala noted in the release that a threat to the safety and security of one journalist anywhere is a threat to journalists everywhere. He said Governments everywhere should know that journalists are not the enemy; they are just performing a fundamental duty of providing information to the public.
“It is the obligation of every government to ensure our safety and security always, especially during times of crisis,” he said.
The group also registered their support for the request made by the Committee for the Protection of Journalists (CPJ) for a free and fair trial for Gershkovich, who appeared in a court in Moscow on Tuesday but his pre-trial detention appeal was rejected.
The Journalist’s body believes that Gershkovich can never be an enemy to his own country of origin, and appealed to the Russian Ambassador to the United States, Anatoly Antonov, to use his good office to secure his immediate release.
Copyright © 2023 Politico (24/04/23)
