Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich’s trial in Russia on espionage charges is starting Wednesday behind closed doors.
Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich’s trial in Russia on espionage charges is starting Wednesday behind closed doors in the city of Yekaterinburg.
Gershkovich, 32, was arrested in March 2023 in Yekaterinburg on espionage charges, with Russian authorities alleging he was gathering secret information for the CIA, a claim he, his employer and the U.S. government deny.
« Evan Gershkovich is facing a false and baseless charge. . The Russian regime’s smearing of Evan is repugnant, disgusting and based on calculated and transparent lies. Journalism is not a crime », Wall Street Journal publisher Almar Latour and chief editor Emma Tucker said after his trial date was announced. « We had hoped to avoid this moment and now expect the U.S. government to redouble efforts to get Evan released. »
He is the first known Western journalist to be arrested on espionage charges in post-Soviet Russia.
The journalist appeared in the courtroom Wednesday morning in a glass cage, with his head shaven, according to The Associated Press.
