Journalist previously kicked out of Russia weighs in on Evan Gershkovich's detainment in 'lawless' land

The Russian government can interpret the espionage statute that led to the arrest of Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich "any way they want," according to author and journalist David Satter.

Satter, former Moscow-based reporter who expelled from Russia in 2013, has written several books on the fall of the Soviet Union and the role of post-Soviet Russia. He believes it was a considerably different era that was "much freer" when he was kicked out of the country and that Gershkovich faces President Vladimir Putin’s vague espionage statute that could make consequences more severe.