American journalist Evan Gershkovich is set to be tried in Russia on charges of espionage, as announced by Russian prosecutors. The accusation stems from allegations that the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reporter gathered classified information from a Russian tank factory on behalf of the CIA.
The trial is scheduled to take place in Yekaterinburg, where Gershkovich was arrested last March while covering the conflict in Ukraine. Gershkovich, 32, has denied the charges, and the WSJ has condemned the upcoming trial as a “sham,” while the U.S. government views his detention as unjust.
Russian prosecutors allege that Gershkovich obtained sensitive data about military equipment production and repair through covert means at the behest of the CIA. His arrest represents the first instance of Russia accusing a U.S. journalist of espionage since the Soviet era. Gershkovich has been held in pre-trial detention in Moscow, far from Yekaterinburg, and if convicted, he could face up to 20 years in prison.
President Vladimir Putin has hinted at the possibility of a prisoner exchange to secure Gershkovich’s release, contingent on reciprocal actions from the United States.
American journalist Evan Gershkovich is set to be tried in Russia on charges of espionage, as announced by Russian prosecutors. The accusation stems from allegations that the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reporter gathered classified information from a Russian tank factory on behalf of the CIA.
The trial is scheduled to take place in Yekaterinburg, where Gershkovich was arrested last March while covering the conflict in Ukraine. Gershkovich, 32, has denied the charges, and the WSJ has condemned the upcoming trial as a “sham,” while the U.S. government views his detention as unjust.
Russian prosecutors allege that Gershkovich obtained sensitive data about military equipment production and repair through covert means at the behest of the CIA. His arrest represents the first instance of Russia accusing a U.S. journalist of espionage since the Soviet era. Gershkovich has been held in pre-trial detention in Moscow, far from Yekaterinburg, and if convicted, he could face up to 20 years in prison.
President Vladimir Putin has hinted at the possibility of a prisoner exchange to secure Gershkovich’s release, contingent on reciprocal actions from the United States.
Leave a Reply