The trial of Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, accused of espionage in Russia, has begun behind closed doors in Yekaterinburg. The case has sparked international concern and calls for his release amidst a crackdown on dissent in the country.
The espionage trial of Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich began in the Russian city of Yekaterinburg on June 26, 2024, 15 months after his arrest. The trial is being held behind closed doors. The 32-year-old journalist, who is the first Western reporter to face such charges in post-Soviet Russia, appeared in a glass cage within the courtroom, his head shaved and dressed in a plaid shirt.
Gershkovich was arrested on March 29, 2023, by Russian authorities while on a reporting trip to Yekaterinburg. He is accused of collecting secret information for US intelligence regarding a military plant. Both Gershkovich and the US government have vehemently denied the charges, with the US State Department declaring him wrongfully detained.
If convicted, Gershkovich faces up to 20 years in prison. His trial follows the broader crackdown on dissent within Russia, exacerbated by President Vladimir Putin’s stringent laws against criticism of Russia’s military operations in Ukraine. Russian courts have a conviction rate exceeding 99%, and acquittals can be appealed by prosecutors.
The case has garnered significant international attention, emphasized by calls from US officials and his employer for his release. The prospect of a prisoner swap has been hinted at but remains uncertain.
