Arrest Of Evan Gershkovich Raises Concerns Of Russia Information Vacuum

The arrest of Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich has raised concerns that a response from Western media outlets to withdraw personnel may create an vacuum of reliable information coming out of Russia.

• Sam Greene, director of the Center for European Policy Analysis, tweets: "After the arrest of [WSJ] correspondent [Gershkovich], word is that [New York Times] are pulling their reporters out of Russia. Others are likely to follow suit. And that, as much as taking a hostage to trade, is what the Kremlin was after."
• Greene continues: "While I don't begrudge Western media taking care of their staff, or reporters who want to be safe, we need to have objective, honest eyes and ears on the ground in Russia."
• The White House responded to Gershkovich's arrest by reiterating State Department advisory that all US citizens should immediately leave Russia.