Putin Personally Approved Arrest Of American Journalist Evan Gershkovich: Report

Russian leader Vladimir Putin personally approved the arrest of American journalist Evan Gershkovich on espionage charges, marking the first instance of such approval since the Cold War era.

What Happened: Putin's decision to detain the WSJ reporter reveals the increasing power of hardliners within the Kremlin who advocate for intensifying a conflict with the U.S. that they believe cannot be resolved, sources familiar with the matter told Bloomberg. 

Alina Polyakova, president of the Center for European Policy Analysis in Washington, said the detention of Wall Street Journal reporter Gershkovich on March 29 "​​should be a real wake-up call, not just to the U.S., but the broader West."

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"It's signaling that in Putin's mindset that there's no going back to a stable and reliable relationship."

Why It Matters: The U.S. has strongly condemned Russia's decision to detain Gershkovich on unjustified charges. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the wrongful detention and denial of consular access to him sends a message that people around the world should “beware of even setting foot” in Russia.

The White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre, in a statement earlier, said, “Americans should heed the U.S. government's warning to not travel to Russia. U.S. citizens residing or traveling in Russia should depart immediately, as the State Department continues to advise."

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