Utgivarna riktar i ett skarpt uttalande kritik mot fängslandet av Wall Street Journal journalistens Evan Gershkovich.
– Utgivarna anser att Rysslands agerande gentemot Evan Gershkovich visar på ett totalt åsidosättande av grundläggande friheter. Vår kollega måste friges.”, kräver Utgivarnas styrelse i ett uttalande som överlämnats till den ryska ambassaden i Stockholm.
– Det faktum att ryska journalister och utländska korrespondenter inte kan rapportera fritt i Ryssland skadar inte bara yttrandefriheten utan också Rysslands rykte i det internationella samfundet. Denna obefogade och orättvisa arrestering av vår kollega i Wall Street Journal är skamlig, och Evan Gershkovich bör släppas utan några villkor.”, står det i uttalandet från Utgivarnas styrelse.
Utgivarna representerar alla Sveriges tidningar och tidskrifter, alla tre public service-bolagen och den största kommersiella tv-gruppen och uppmanar Ryssland att ge Evan Gershkovich advokater möjlighet att träffa journalisten och att han därefter omedelbart släpps ur fångenskap.
Uttalandet från Utgivarnas styrelse i sin helhet:
Utgivarna demands the immediate
release of WSJ reporter
Utgivarna, the Swedish publishers’ organization, condemns the detention of the Wall Street Journal correspondent Mr. Evan Gershkovich.
Representing all of Sweden´s newspapers and magazines, all three public broadcasters and the largest commercial TV group, Utgivarna urges Russia to grant Mr. Evan Gershkovich´s lawyers access to the journalist and subsequently his immediate release.
The board of Utgivarna is worried about this retaliatory measure. The fact that Russian journalists and foreign correspondents cannot report freely in Russia is damaging not only to freedom of speech, but also to Russia´s reputation in the international community. This unwarranted and unjust arrest of our Wall Street Journal colleague is shameful, and Mr. Evan Gershkovich should be released unconditionally.
As a neighbouring country, Swedish media has a long history of covering Russia in all aspects. Journalists travel to Russia, correspondents live there. In general, the right to independent reporting from inside Russia has been respected.
But the message now sent by the Russian authorities testifies to something different. The espionage allegations must be tried in a fair and transparent manner and the detained journalist must be able to meet his legal team and his family.
Utgivarna believes Russia´s actions towards Mr. Evan Gershkovich demonstrate a total disregard for basic freedoms. Our colleague must be set free.
Robert Olsson,
The CEO of Utgivarna on behalf of the board of Utgivarna including Thomas Mattsson, Chairman, Kerstin Neld, Vice Chairman, Hanna Stjärne, Vice Chairman, Viveka Hansson, Vice Chairman, Christofer Ahlqvist, Anna Careborg, Anne Lagercrantz, Cilla Benkö, Margaretha Eriksson, Mathias Berg and Johan Taubert.