Parents of Evan Gershkovich to attend Biden’s address as guests of speaker

The parents of Evan Gershkovich, the Wall Street Journal reporter detained in Russia for nearly a year, will attend President Biden’s State of the Union speech on Thursday as guests of House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.), his office said in a statement Wednesday.

“I’m honored to host Ella Milman and Mikhail Gershkovich for the State of the Union address,” Johnson said in the statement. “By hosting Evan’s parents, Congress will shine a spotlight on the unjust detention of their son. The United States must always stand for freedom of the press around the world, especially in places like Russia, where it is under assault. The Administration must bring Evan home.”