MOSCOW. April 18 (Interfax) - U.S. Ambassador to Russia Lynne Tracy has called the espionage charges brought against the Wall Street Journal's correspondent Evan Gershkovich baseless, and urged the Russian authorities to release him from custody.
"The charges against Evan are baseless, and we call on the Russian Federation to immediately release him," Tracy told the press on Tuesday.
She said that U.S. diplomats were given consular access to Gershkovich on Monday, for the first time since his detention. "He is in good health and remains strong," she said.
Tracy said she was hoping for further consular access to Gershkovich.
She also called for the release of U.S. citizen Paul Whelan, convicted of espionage, from his penitentiary.
The Moscow City Court upheld Gershkovich's arrest until May 29 earlier on Tuesday.