In a Speech on the Senate Floor, Durbin Demands the Release of American Citizens Held by the Russian Government

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“He [Gershkovich] has spent more than a year in pretrial detention in a notorious Moscow prison, including in isolation with limited medical attention,” said Durbin. “Even during the height of the Cold War, the Soviet police state didn’t arrest and hold American journalists in such a brazen and transparently crude manner—the longest was a U.S. News and World Report reporter who was released after 13 days.

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I met with him [Kara-Murza] a month before his arrest and, despite two murder attempts by poisoning, he was determined to go back to Russia to fight for democracy. His wife, Evgenia, is here this week for a bipartisan event on the anniversary of his arrest. And, let us not forget Brittney Griner, whose arrest in 2022 on trumped up charges was cynically used to secure the release of notorious Russian arms merchant Viktor Bout.

It is outrageous that Russia, a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council, is taking innocent Americans hostage. It is the act of a desperate rogue regime, similar to the criminal actions of countries such as Iran, North Korea, and Venezuela.

And to those detained and their families, I want you to know you are not forgotten. We will continue to advocate for your release,”

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