The Kremlin on Thursday denied a report that President Vladimir Putin personally approved the arrest of Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, who was detained in Russia late last month on espionage charges.
"No, it is not the president's prerogative, it is the special services who are doing their job. Once again, I would like to remind you that this journalist was caught red-handed," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters.