U.S. 'Deeply Disappointed' After Russia Denies Request To Visit Jailed Journalist

Washington D.C./29.04.23/Turan:   The United States said on Friday it's "deeply disappointed " after the Russian Foreign Affairs Ministry denied a request to allow American diplomats to see jailed Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, TURAN's U.S. correspondent reports.

Asked by TURAN if Washington was prepared to sanction the Russian Foreign Ministry, State Department's Deputy Spokesperson Vedant Patel said, "Let me take a little bit of a step back. I think first and foremost as it relates to Evan's case, we of course were deeply disappointed that the request to visit Evan in early May, on May 11th for a consular visit, was denied."

Washington, Patel said, has been "clear and consistent" that American nationals detained abroad, "especially those American citizens who are wrongfully detained like Evan, like Paul Whelan, are allotted appropriate and regular consular access by our personnel."

"And so we’re going to continue to insist on that," he added. "We also are going to continue to call for Evan’s release and the release of Paul Whelan"

As it relates to American designations, Patel said, "we have a number of tools in our tool belt to continue to hold not just the Russian Federation accountable but also hold those who perpetrate arbitrary and wrongful detention of American citizens as well, and we’ll continue to pursue those lines of efforts as well."

The U.S. this week sanctioned Russia's FSB for taking Americans 'hostage'.

Alex Raufoglu