Russia says 'unacceptable' for US to politicise case of detained WSJ reporter Evan Gershkovich
ABCRussian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has told US Secretary of State Antony Blinken it was unacceptable for Washington to politicise the case of Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, who has been detained and accused of spying in Russia. Key points: In a phone call between the two, Mr Lavrov warned Mr Blinken of the "need to respect the decisions" of Russian authorities Mr Blinken called for the immediate release of Gershkovich, the US State Department says He also sought the immediate release of another imprisoned American, Paul Whelan The Russian Foreign Ministry said Mr Lavrov told Mr Blinken in a phone call on Sunday that Gershkovich's fate would be determined by a court. The US State Department said in a statement that Mr Blinken had made the call without mentioning Gershkovich by name. Blinken seeks release of two Americans Mr Blinken also sought the immediate release of another imprisoned American, Paul Whelan, whom the statement said was wrongfully detained.