U.S. ambassador again visits detained WSJ reporter Evan Gershkovich in Russia

• Tracy has visited Gershkovich several times.
• The embassy noted Gershkovich was aware his family appeared at the UN headquarters in New York on Thursday to advocate for the reporter's release.
• The embassy reiterated its call Friday for the immediate release of Gershkovich and former Marine Paul Whelan.

The big picture: The visit comes weeks after a Moscow court extended Gershkovich's detention by three months, keeping him behind bars until at least Nov. 30.

• Gershkovich's arrest in March marked the first time a U.S. journalist was detained in an espionage case in Russia since the Cold War, per the Committee to Protect Journalists.
• Russian authorities detained him while he was on a reporting trip in the city of Yekaterinburg, about 1,000 miles east of Moscow.
• At the time of his arrest, the FSB accused Gershkovich of trying to obtain classified information "on the instructions of the United States" — an allegation the Wall Street Journal "vehemently" denied.

Of note: Gershkovich is being held at Moscow's Lefortovo Prison, known for its harsh conditions.

What to watch: President Biden said in July that he intended to pursue a prisoner swap for Gershkovich.