YEKATERINBURG, Russia (AP) — Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich Hearings were held behind closed doors on Thursday in his trial on Russian espionage charges, which he, his employers and the U.S. government strongly deny.
Authorities arrested the 32-year-old journalist on March 29, 2023, during a reporting trip and claimed, without providing any evidence, that he was collecting secret information for the United States. American-born son of immigrants Gershkovich, a native of the Soviet Union, was the first Western journalist to be arrested. Suspicion In post-Soviet Russia.
The US State Department declared him to be “unlawfully detained” and promised that the government would vigorously seek his release.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Wednesday that intelligence agencies in Moscow and Washington were discussing the exchanges over Gershkovich, according to the Russian state news agency TASS.
Russia has previously floated the possibility of a swap for Gershkovich, but has said it must first a verdict be issued, which could take several months. Even after the verdict is issued, his release could take months or even years.
The court said Gershkovich was present at the second hearing in his trial, taking place in the Ural Mountain city of Yekaterinburg where he is being held, but reporters were not allowed in the courtroom on Thursday and Gershkovich did not appear.
Journalists were allowed brief access to Gershkovich during a pre-trial appearance last month and on the first day of the trial, but this week the court barred reporters from visiting without explanation, despite the secrecy typically surrounding espionage cases.
in First hearing of the trial The trial had been postponed until mid-August, but Gershkovich’s lawyers had asked for a second hearing to be held earlier, Russian state news agency RIA Novosti and independent news site Mediazona reported on Tuesday, citing court sources.
Russia’s prosecutor’s office said last month that the journalist was accused of “collecting secret information” on the orders of the CIA about Uralvagonzavod, a factory about 150 kilometers (90 miles) north of Yekaterinburg that produces and repairs tanks and other military equipment.
Gershkovich’s employers and U.S. authorities have denied the charges as fabricated and called the trial illegal and a sham.
“Evan was never employed by the United States government. Evan is not a spy. Journalism is not a crime. And Evan should never have been detained in the first place,” White House national security spokesman John Kirby said last month.
If the court finds him guilty, Gershkovich could face up to 20 years in prison, which is almost certain. Russian courts convict more than 99 percent of those who go to trial, and prosecutors can appeal if they feel the sentence is too light, as well as appeal acquittals.
Furthermore, the interpretation of serious crimes such as Russian espionage and treason wideAuthorities go after people who share publicly available information with foreigners, often accusing them of leaking state secrets.
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Burrows reported from London.
