Kremlin Says US Journalists Caught In The Act By Intelligence, Will There Be Prisoner Exchange?

JAKARTA - Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Thursday, The Wall Street Journal journalist Evan Gershkovich, who was detained by Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) in Yekaterinburg on espionage charges, was caught in the act.

"This is the prerogative of the FSB. They have already made a statement. There is nothing we can add here. The only thing I can add is that, as far as we know, he was caught in the act," he said, responding to a question about how the Kremlin felt about the situation of detention of Gershkovich, citing TASS March 30.

Nevertheless, the Kremlin spokesman hopes that this will not be followed by the closure of the offices of the Russian representative corps in the United States.

"It shouldn't be, because, again, we are not talking about suspicions, we are talking about the fact that he was arrested because he was caught in the act," Peskov said.

Peskov sees no problem for other foreign journalists involved in journalism, continuing their work in Russia.

"Those who carry out appropriate journalistic activities, of course with valid accreditation, will be able to continue working," he explained when answering a question about whether the remaining journalists could be deported from the Russian Federation or remain in Russia.

The Kremlin spokesperson said it was aware of Gershkovich's publications.

"Of course, we monitor foreign media, we do it every day, so we know the publications," Peskov replied.

When asked about his attitude towards the publications, Peskov said, "We consider what is published."

Furthermore, Peskov did not provide details and a possible prisoner exchange, related to the US journalist's detention.

"I can't go into details, I don't have the details. This is the prerogative of the special services, whose job is espionage," he explained.

He also declined to comment further on the currently detained Russian citizen Sergei Cherkasov, including the possibility of discussing a prisoner exchange.

"I don't have such information, I have nothing to say on this matter," Peskov replied.

It is understood that US authorities said Cherkasov, who is currently serving a prison sentence in Brazil, had acted in the US for Russian intelligence, was involved in fraud and money laundering.