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A Moscow court on Tuesday upheld the detention of American journalist Evan Gershkovich, who appeared before a judge in his first public sighting since he was taken into custody on espionage charges during a reporting trip late last month.
Gershkovich’s challenge to his pre-trial detention was rejected by the Russian judge, meaning he will be held at the notorious Lefortovo Prison until at least May 29.
The 31-year-old Wall Street Journal reporter appeared to be calm, wearing jeans and a button-up while standing with his arms crossed over his chest inside a glass detention box.
His lawyers suggested he be freed on bail of 50 million roubles ($614,000) or placed under house arrest. Both requests were denied by the court.
Gershkovich and his employer have forcefully denied the allegations behind his arrest, and the US government last week classified his detention as “wrongful.
