On Tuesday (April 18), a Russian court refused bail to Evan Gershkovich, a Wall Street Journal writer from the United States, who was arrested and faces up to 20 years in prison. Since then, the journalist has denied being a spy and appeared in court in Moscow to protest a decision to hold him in pre-trial detention in a former KGB prison until at least May 29.
What took place during the hearing?
Gershkovich was detained on espionage accusations on March 29 in the Urals city of Yekaterinburg by the Russian FSB security service and could face decades in prison. On Tuesday, the partially open hearing began, with Gershkovich standing behind a glass wall of an enclosure for defendants, wearing jeans and a blue checkered shirt.
Lynne Tracy, the US ambassador to Russia, was also present in the courtroom but was taken out along with the journalists during the hearing and was only permitted back for the judgment at the end.
The verdict was read aloud by a judge, who stated that his incarceration “should remain in place.” Gershkovich then responded in Russian, “All understood.” Thank you very much,” AFP reported.
According to Reuters, the court documents revealed only a few specifics about the case, while the Moscow court stated that it was banned to publish certain documents.
Following the court, one of his lawyers, Maria Korchagina, told AFP that Gershkovich has kept his “fighting spirit” and is “working out and knowing that people are supporting him.”
The US begs for Gershkovich’s release once more
Tracy said in a statement on Monday that the WSJ reporter “feels well and is holding up.” “After visiting Evan, we reiterate our call for his immediate release.”
In response to the US ambassador’s visit, White House national security spokeswoman John Kirby stated, “It was good to get to see him today, and again, we want to make sure that we can continue to do that.”
Last Monday, the US claimed Gershkovich was “wrongfully detained” and that the spy claims against him are false, including President Joe Biden, who called his detention “totally illegal.”
Gershkovich is facing spy allegations
Notably, the WSJ reporter is the first foreign journalist imprisoned on spying charges since the Soviet Union’s demise, while Moscow claims he was caught “red-handed” collecting what it claims are state secrets regarding the military-industrial complex.
Gershkovich is now being imprisoned at the Lefortovo jail in Moscow, along with others accused of treason and espionage. The prison was once managed by the KGB but is now run by the Federal Penitentiary Service.