The State Department designated Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gersh Kovich wrongfully detained. Piotr Sauer is a Russia affairs reporter for The Guardian. He left Moscow in March of 2022, not long after the war started. You've got some answers coming up on Today Explained.
Evan Gershkovich’s detention is a callback to the last time a US journalist was accused of espionage in Russia — and to a Soviet-era tactic for manipulating the West.
This episode was produced by Amanda Lewellyn, edited by Amina Al-Sadi, fact-checked by Laura Bullard and Matt Collette, engineered by Patrick Boyd, and hosted by Noel King.
Transcript at vox.com/todayexplained
Support Today, Explained by making a financial contribution to Vox! bit.ly/givepodcasts
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices