Putin wants to use the American journalist's arrest for US pressure - isw

The personal order of the Kremlin head for the detention of the WSJ correspondent was probably a response to the arrest of the US citizen Sergei Cherkasov, whom Washington considers an agent of a foreign country. Russian President Vladimir Putin personally agreed to the arrest of the Wall Street Journal correspondent Evan Gershkovich on charges of espionage, in particular for collecting information about the activities of the Russian military-industrial complex.

The arrest of the Kremlin journalist aims to use in his favor. This is stated in the report of the American Institute for War Study (ISW) for April 13. "Putin's personal involvement in arrest suggests that arrest was likely to be a response to US citizen's arrest Sergei Cherkasov on March 24 on charges of activity as an agent In order to justify the repression and further conceal the activities of Russian defense industry, "-the institute said.

ISW analysts say that the arrest of an American journalist may indicate that the Kremlin views it as a calculated escalation, which he will try to use as a lever to obtain concessions from the United States. On April 13, ISW also reported that the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation was unable to carry out large -scale offenses in several directions. The Kremlin has not yet made the necessary reorganization of its forces to use them effectively.