Russia's FSB has detained an American journalist in Russia 'on suspicion of espionage' amid icy relations between Moscow and Washington over war in Ukraine.
Evan Gershkovich, 31, was held in Yekaterinburg in the Urals where he was on an assignment for The Wall Street Journal.
The reporter - an accredited foreign correspondent in Moscow - was held over alleged “illegal activities” and was “suspected of espionage for the US government”, said the FSB.
He was allegedly "engaged in the collection of information about one of the enterprises of the Russian military-industrial complex” which constitute “state secrets”.
He was “acting on instructions” from the US government, it was alleged.
"While trying to obtain secret information, an American was detained in Yekaterinburg,” said the FSB which provided no evidence for its accusations.
Reports suggest he was held last night at the Bukowski Grill restaurant and led by plain-clothed officers to a waiting vehicle with a sweater pulled over his head.
Russian reports suggest he had gone to Yekaterinburg to write about the attitude of people to the war unleashed by Vladimir Putin in Ukraine, and the recruitment of locals for the Wagner private military company.
There was concern for Gershkovich when he failed to make contact with his editorial office.
He has lived in Moscow for six years, working as a journalist.
He is a US citizen born to parents from the Soviet Union.
Local sources said Gershkovich had made a trip to the city several weeks ago and had returned this week.
On Twitter, his friends rallied to demand his release.
Guardian reporter Pjotr Sauer wrote: "My friend and thoroughly professional journalist @evangershkovich has been arrested by the FSB on obviously bogus espionage charges. Journalism is not a crime. Evan should be released immediately."
Russia has seldom made allegations of espionage against Western correspondents accredited to the country.
However, many accredited correspondents from Western media outlets left the country when the war 13 months ago started amid concerns it was unsafe to remain.
Political analyst Tatiana Stanovaya suggested Gershkovich had been “taken hostage” by the FSB.
Moscow has been accused in the past of arresting foreigners - especially Americans - to use in barter exchanges for Russians detained in the US.
Spying convictions can lead to up to 20 year jail sentences.
