Topline
Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich appeared in a Moscow courtroom on Tuesday to appeal against his arrest and detention by Russia on spying charges, maintaining his innocence as U.S. officials work to secure his release and condemn Russia’s purportedly political motives in pursuing the American journalist.
US journalist Evan Gershkovich, arrested on espionage charges, stands inside a transparent … [+]
Key Facts
Gershkovich appeared at the appeal hearing inside a transparent box, according to images of proceedings and footage shown on Russian state television.
He is appealing against his detention and arrest after Russia charged him with spying and accused him of attempting to secure classified defense information on behalf of the U.S. government.
The reporter, who denies any wrongdoing, is under pretrial detention until late May and the appeal will only determine how he is detained until trial, rather than the nature of the espionage charges.
The court could choose to keep Gershkovich where he is detained now—Moscow’s Lefortovo prison, which is typically used to hold those suspected of serious crimes like spying—or move him to another prison or grant house arrest or bail.
The U.S. ambassador to Russia, Lynne Tracy, was present in the courtroom.
News Peg
Gershkovich was arrested while working in Yekaterinburg and formally charged with espionage in April. Russian officials allege Gershkovich’s reporting work was a thinly veiled disguise for a U.S. intelligence gathering operation regarding Russian state secrets. If convicted, and most Russian espionage trials end in conviction, he faces up to 20 years in prison. His detention marks the first time Russia has accused a U.S. journalist of espionage since the Soviet era and the allegation comes at a time of exceptionally high tensions between Washington and Moscow. Following a recent visit, the first allowed for U.S. officials, Tracy described Gershkovich as being in “good health.” His detention, which has been widely criticized by U.S. politicians across the political spectrum, as well as numerous press freedom and human rights groups, has heightened tensions and Washington insists he has been wrongfully detained, freeing up additional researchers for officials to pursue his release.
Gershkovich waits for the hearing to begin.
US Ambassador to Russia Lynne Tracy waits in a hall of the Moscow City Court prior to the hearing.
Gershkovich stands in a glass box near U.S. Ambassador Tracy .
Gershkovich stands in the detention box.
Further Reading
Russia Charges Wall Street Journal Reporter Evan Gershkovich With Spying (Forbes)
In Russian Courts, Espionage Charges Lead to Secret Trials and Near-Certain Convictions (WSJ)
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/roberthart/2023/04/18/evan-gershkovich-us-journalist-appears-in-court-to-appeal-russian-detention/