Evan Gershkovich was arrested on Friday on espionage charges.
The Wall Street Journal vehemently denied the espionage accusation.
The Russian Foreign Ministry confirmed on Sunday that Lavrov and Blinken had discussed Gershkovich’s arrest in a US-initiated phone call.
In the call, broadcast by the US State Department, Blinken said that Blinken expressed “great concern over Russia’s unacceptable detention of a US citizen journalist”.
In a statement from Russia’s foreign ministry, Lavrov responded by reiterating Russia’s claims that Gershkovich was caught “red-handed trying to obtain classified information” and that his case would be handled by Russian courts.
Lavrov also warned US officials and the media not to create “hysteria” around the journalist’s arrest.
Espionage in Russia carries a maximum prison sentence of 20 years.
Gershkovich’s arrest was strongly condemned by journalists around the world.