US reporter Evan Gershkovich has been sentenced by a Russian court to 16 years in prison for espionage. The verdict, delivered after just three closed-door court sessions in Yekaterinburg, has been condemned as “despicable,” “disgraceful,” and a “sham” by Western governments and his employer, The Wall Street Journal.
Gershkovich, arrested in March 2023 while on a reporting trip, was accused of spying on a tank factory for the CIA. He pleaded not guilty and has spent nearly 16 months in detention. The US government and The Wall Street Journal have consistently maintained that the charges are fabricated.
Following the sentencing, US President Joe Biden stated that Gershkovich was targeted for being a journalist and an American, pledging continued efforts for his release. Talks of a possible prisoner swap between Washington and Moscow are ongoing.
Former President Donald Trump criticized Biden, claiming he could secure Gershkovich’s release without compensation if re-elected. Gershkovich, standing in a glass defendants’ cage, showed no reaction to the sentencing and waved to his journalist colleagues as he was led away.
Judge Andrei Mineyev announced that Gershkovich would be sent to a “strict regime colony,” a type of Russian prison camp known for harsh conditions.
The Wall Street Journal’s publisher Almar Latour and editor-in-chief Emma Tucker called the conviction “disgraceful” and a “sham,” emphasizing Gershkovich’s wrongful detention and the impact on his ability to report.
International reactions have been swift. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer described the sentencing as “despicable,” German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock called it “politically motivated,” and UN spokesman Farhan Haq expressed “serious concerns” about journalists’ safety.
Russian opposition figure Yulia Navalnaya condemned the conviction, urging continued efforts to secure the release of those wrongfully imprisoned under Putin’s regime.
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Despite the lack of public evidence for the espionage charges, the Kremlin claimed Gershkovich was caught “red-handed.” Discussions of a prisoner swap, potentially involving Russian convict Vadim Krasikov, continue, but no specifics have been disclosed.
Other US nationals detained in Russia include dual citizens Alsu Kurmasheva and Ksenia Karelina, and former US marine Paul Whelan. The White House has advised US citizens to leave Russia immediately due to the risk of wrongful arrest.
Gershkovich, the US-born son of Soviet emigres, had reported from Russia since 2017. During his pre-trial detention in Moscow’s Lefortovo prison, he maintained hope through hand-written letters to friends and family.
