American reporter marks a year in a Russian prison

His family and friends speak out

Evan Gershkovich has been jailed in Moscow's notorious Lefortovo prison for a year on charges of espionage. His family and friends are speaking out about his case and calling for his release.

Gershkovich's parents, Ella and Mikhail Gershkovich, are Jewish immigrants who settled in the US after leaving the Soviet Union. They say their son is innocent and that the charges against him are politically motivated.

"We are deeply concerned about Evan's well-being," said Ella Gershkovich. "He has been held in solitary confinement for months and denied access to a lawyer. We are afraid for his physical and mental health."

Gershkovich's friends and colleagues have also expressed concern about his case. They say he is a dedicated journalist who was simply doing his job when he was arrested.

"Evan is a courageous and ethical journalist who has always strived to tell the truth," said David Remnick, editor of The New Yorker. "His arrest is a clear attempt to intimidate journalists and suppress free speech in Russia."

The US government has also called for Gershkovich's release. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a statement that Gershkovich is "an innocent American citizen who has been unjustly detained."