American journalist Evan Gershkovich appeared in a Russian court on Tuesday. The court upheld his detention and denying his lawyers’ latest appeal to free him.
Gershkovich, a reporter for the Wall Street Journal based out of its Moscow bureau, is the first journalist to be charged with espionage in Russia since the end of the Cold War. He has been detained since March 29. He was taken into custody during a reporting trip. The 31-year-old was accredited by Russia’s Foreign Ministry to work as a journalist. Evan denies being a spy, as do the Wall Street Journal, and the U.S. government. He does not work for the U.S. government.
The parent company of the Wall Street Journal, Dow Jones, condemned the Russian court’s decision, though it was expected.
“It has now been more than six months since Evan’s unjust arrest, and we are outraged that he continues to be wrongfully detained,” a company spokeswoman said. “The accusation against him is categorically false, and we call for his immediate release.”
Almar Latour, chief executive of Dow Jones and publisher of the Journal, and Emma Tucker, editor in chief of the Journal, said in a joint statement that the company “will not rest until [Gershkovich] is home.”
The court has consistently denied requests and appeals by Evan’s lawyers. One request was that he be transferred to house arrest, agreeing to constraints on his movement. And, he has requested bail. Last month, a Moscow city court refused to consider the latest appeal against his pretrial detention. The court cited procedural irregularities.
His pretrial detention was supposed to end on May 29. It was extended until November 30. His lawyers have appealed the extension.
The U.S. government has classified Evan as wrongfully detained. That designation frees up additional tools with which to exert pressure on Russia to free him. It is likely that it will be many more months before his case goes to trial. Russian officials have not publicly shown any evidence that Evan was spying. Investigators and prosecutors can drag the process out and extend Evan’s pretrial detention. Espionage trials are usually conducted in secret. Acquittals are rare and he could be sentenced to 10 to 20 years in prison.
Stephanie Holmes, deputy chief of mission at the U.S. Embassy in Moscow, attended the hearing today. She didn’t make any remarks following the session.
In a message posted later on its Telegram channel, the embassy said it was “disappointed that the appeal to extend [Gershkovich’s] detention has again been rejected,” adding that “Evan must be released.”
I feel for him and other Americans being detained in Russia and elsewhere. The Biden administration doesn’t have a good track record for bringing Americans home. The last time they made a prisoner swap, it involved unfreezing $6B in Iranian funds and that allowed the war on Israel by Hamas to begin. Putin has stepped into the void left by Biden on the world stage. Especially with American support so strong for Ukraine against Russia, we shouldn’t expect much movement in this case anytime soon. Putin is retaliating against innocent Americans abroad because he can.
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