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Russian court extends detention of US reporter Gershkovich

November 28, 2023

Evan Gershkovich was arrested in late March in Russia on espionage charges. The court extended the Wall Street Journal reporter's pre-trial detention until January 30.

https://p.dw.com/p/4ZVhI
Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich stands inside an enclosure for defendants before a court hearing in Moscow, Russia
Gershkovich is being held at Moscow's Lefortovo prison, notorious for its harsh conditionsImage: Evgenia Novozhenina/REUTERS

A Moscow court on Tuesday extended the detention of Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich until January, Russian news agencies said. 

The court said 32-year-old Gershkovich's period of detention was extended by two more months until January 30. 

The US journalist was arrested in late March in Russia on espionage charges and has since had his detention repeatedly extended. Such charges carry a sentence of up to 20 years in prison.

What are the accusations against Evan Gershkovich?

According to Russia's Federal Security Service, the reporter, "acting on the instructions of the American side, collected information constituting a state secret about the activities of one of the enterprises of the Russian military-industrial complex." 

The hearing was held behind closed doors and no press were allowed inside, with authorities maintaining that the details of the case against him are classified.

Russia has not publicly presented evidence to support its accusations against Gershkovich. 

Russia accuses US reporter of spying

The journalist, along with his employer and the US government, have denied the allegations. 

"Evan has now been unjustly imprisoned for nearly 250 days, and every day is a day too long," the WSJ said in a statement cited by Reuters news agency. 

"The accusations against him are categorically false and his continued imprisonment is a brazen and outrageous attack on a free press, which is critical for a free society. We continue to stand with Evan and call for his immediate release."

"The baseless accusations against him are categorically false, and we continue to push for his immediate release," the newspaper said in a statement earlier. "Journalism is not a crime."

US President Joe Biden previously described Gershkovich's detention as "totally illegal." 

Prisoners as leverage

Experts say Moscow might be using detained Americans as leverage amid heightened US-Russia tensions following the latter's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. 

WNBA star Brittney Griner was among the two jailed Americans exchanged for Russians imprisoned in the US.  

Moscow has stated it will only consider an exchange for Gershkovich after the conclusion of his trial, which could take more than a year.

ss/fb (AFP, Reuters, AP)