A closed-door trial has begun in Russia where Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich is accused of espionage.
Prosecutors say the Wall Street Journal reporter gathered secret information on the orders of the US Central Intelligence Agency about a company that manufactures tanks for Russia's war in Ukraine. If convicted, he faces a sentence of up to 20 years. Closed trials are standard procedure in Russia for cases of alleged treason or espionage involving classified state material, which typically can last several months.The Kremlin says the case, and the arrangements for it, are a matter for the court, but has stated — without publishing evidence — that Mr Gershkovich was caught "red-handed".
The US has accused Russia of conducting "hostage diplomacy". It has designated Mr Gershkovich and another jailed American, Paul Whelan, as "wrongfully detained" and says it is committed to bringing them home.The trial is taking place in the city of Yekaterinburg, where officers of the FSB security service arrested Mr Gershkovich on March 29, 2023, while he was eating in a steakhouse. Since then he has spent nearly 16 months in Moscow's Lefortovo prison.
Mr Gershkovich was one of a small number of Western reporters, also including journalists from Reuters, who continued to report from inside Russia.