Journalists and supporters worldwide have launched a series of beach swims in a show of solidarity for Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, who has been imprisoned in Russia for a year under espionage charges, which he and others deny. In commemorating the anniversary of his detention, these swims, occurring in locations such as Brighton beaches across 10 different countries, including New Zealand, Australia, South Africa, and the US, aim to raise awareness of Gershkovich’s situation and the broader risks journalists face while performing their duties. Over 100 participants have rallied behind this cause, highlighting the unity within the journalism community against what they perceive as an unjust treatment of one of their own.

In a separate yet related development, Spain’s Xavier Colas, a correspondent for El Mundo, has been forced to leave Russia after authorities allegedly did not renew his visa, leading to an abrupt departure due to a reported five-year ban imposed without explanation. The Russian Foreign Ministry disputes this account, claiming Colas was furnished with necessary documents for visa renewal. This incident is part of a perceived tightening of media freedoms in Russia, seen in the refusal to renew visas for other foreign journalists and the expulsion or pressure on various international media representatives.

These events have brought into sharp focus the challenges faced by journalists in Russia, where government actions towards the press, especially those covering sensitive issues, have raised concerns globally about diminishing press freedoms and the escalating intimidation and censorship of independent media.