Mercer Times

Governor Murphy has expressed his relief following the release of Evan Gershkovich, a New Jersey native and Princeton High School graduate, who was detained in Russia for over a year. Gershkovich was convicted of espionage by Russian authorities.

Governor Murphy stated, “I am thrilled to hear that, after over a year of detention, Evan Gershkovich has been freed from Russia. Evan is a New Jersey native and Princeton High School graduate who was wrongfully convicted of espionage by the brutal Putin regime — a pawn in a politically-motivated game.” He added his prayers for Gershkovich's "safety and health as he returns home to his family and reacclimates to life back in the U.S."

Murphy also extended gratitude towards President Biden and international allies involved in what he described as "complex, multilateral negotiation" efforts aimed at securing the release of Gershkovich and other Americans wrongfully detained abroad.