UPDATE
Jun 22, 2023 8:11 AM CDT
A Russian court has rejected Evan Gershkovich's appeal against pre-trial detention, meaning the Wall Street Journal reporter will remain jailed until at least Aug. 30. The decision came Tuesday in another closed-door hearing for the American accused of spying, though the ruling was broadcast to reporters in a separate room at Moscow City Court, per the AP. The outlet reports Gershkovich, 31, "looked tense" before the hearing but "smiled and chatted to his parents, who were present." "Evan continued to show remarkable strength and resiliency in these very difficult circumstances," US Ambassador Lynne Tracy, who was also in attendance, later told reporters. She said Gershkovich is "an innocent journalist" and "we call on the Russian Federation to release him."
May 23, 2023 11:29 AM CDT
A Russian court on Tuesday extended the arrest of Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich by three months, Russian news agencies reported. Gershkovich, an American citizen, was ordered held until Aug. 30, per the AP. He had been arrested in March on espionage charges on a reporting trip in Russia. He, his employer, and the US government have denied the charges. Tuesday’s court hearing wasn’t announced in advance, and the entire case has been wrapped in secrecy. Russian authorities haven’t detailed what—if any—evidence they have gathered to support the espionage charges. Various legal proceedings have been closed to the media, and no details immediately emerged about whether Gershkovich or US Embassy representatives attended Tuesday's hearing or what was said.
Tass said the session was closed because the reporter was accused of possession of “secret materials.” Gershkovich is the first US correspondent since the Cold War to be detained in Russia on spying charges, and his arrest rattled journalists in the country and drew outrage in the West. The US government has declared Gershkovich to be “wrongfully detained” and demanded his immediate release. He’s being held in Moscow’s Lefortovo prison. US Embassy officials were allowed at least one prison visit to Gershkovich since his arrest in Yekaterinburg on March 29, but Russian authorities have denied permission for other visits.
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