Toronto, CANADA 

US Senate leaders asked Friday for the release of an American journalist who was recently detained in Russia.

"We strongly condemn the wrongful detention of U.S. citizen and Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, and demand the immediate release of this internationally known and respected independent journalist," Democratic leader Chuck Schumer and Minority Leader Mitch McConnell wrote in a statement.

Since his March 29 arrest, based on claims he was spying in the interests of the US government, "Russian authorities have failed to present any credible evidence to justify their fabricated charges," it said.

The leaders blamed Russia for denying Gershkovich access to the US Embassy which is against diplomatic practice and possibly in violation of international law.

Russia has a long history of wrongly detaining American citizens in a judicial system that is neither transparent nor just, and another US national, Paul Whelan, is also detained by the Kremlin, they said.

"Let there be no mistake: journalism is not a crime. We demand the baseless, fabricated charges against Mr. Gershkovich be dropped and he be immediately released and reiterate our condemnation of the Russian government’s continued attempts to intimidate, repress, and punish independent journalists and civil society voices," it said.

- Russian Security Service blames US journalist with espionage

Gershkovich, 31, who has worked in Russia for six years, was detained in Yekaterinburg.

He was charged with “spying in the interests of the American government,” according to the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB).

The Wall Street Journal “vehemently” denied the espionage allegations against Gershkovich, and called for his “immediate release.”

Whelan, a retired US soldier, has been detained in Russia since 2018, after traveling there for a wedding.