Source: United States Senator for Delaware Christopher Coons
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Chris Coons (D-Del.) and Jim Risch (R-Idaho), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, led 30 of their colleagues in writing an open letter to wrongfully detained Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich. The letter condemns his unjust detention by the Russian government and shows him their support during his wrongful imprisonment.
The lawmakers write, “We write to express our profound anger and concern over your unjust and wrongful detention in Russia. We hope you are doing as well as possible under the current circumstances and understand the enormous burden you may feel as the Russian government uses you as a political tool. We hope this letter makes clear our support and solidarity on your behalf and our desire that you and fellow detainee Paul Whelan are immediately and unconditionally released. Since your arrest, we have advocated for your release publicly and privately. We will not stop until you are safely home. We believe that a free press is crucial to the foundation and support of human rights everywhere.”
They continue, “We are fully committed to bringing you, Paul, and every wrongfully detained American home at the earliest opportunity. Every day you spend in Russia is a day too long. Please know that the support for you and Paul go well beyond the walls of the United States Senate, and that the American people are with us in demanding your release.”
In addition to Senators Coons and Risch, the letter is signed by Senators Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Dr. Bill Cassidy (R-La.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), Rick Scott (R-Fla.), Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.), Tim Scott (R-S.C.), Angus King (I-Maine), Pete Ricketts (R-Neb.), Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.), Mark Warner (D-Va.), James Lankford (R-Okla.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), John Cornyn (R-Texas), Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Susan Collins (R-Maine), Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), and Mike Crapo (R-Idaho).
You can read the full letter here.
Senator Coons previously introduced legislation to prevent hostages and wrongfully detained Americans from incurring tax penalties, and to establish a National Hostage and Wrongful Detainee Day and flag, which passed the Senate unanimously last month. He is Co-Chair of the Senate Human Rights Caucus and a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.