American reporter Evan Gershkovich has been sentenced to 16 years in prison in Russia. The Wall Street Journal correspondent is accused of espionage. According to the indictment, the 32-year-old is said to have gathered information about a Russian weapons factory for the American secret service CIA.
Both the journalist and the U.S. government have consistently dismissed the allegations as baseless (see video above). The White House is also calling for Gershkovich’s release. The 32-year-old was arrested in March 2023 on espionage charges brought by Russia’s domestic intelligence service, the FSB. Like many Western journalists, Gershkovich had worked in Russia and conducted research under accreditation from the Moscow Foreign Ministry.
Warning to reporters
Since the war in Ukraine, the situation in the country has become particularly tense. Representatives of the Western media coming from so-called “unfriendly states” quickly run the risk of being labeled as spies. There were already official warnings against traveling to Yekaterinburg, known for its arms industry – and therefore to the place where Gershkovich had conducted research.
His sentence was announced Friday – 16 years in prison. The prosecutor had previously demanded 18 years in prison.
Secret negotiations?
According to official Russian information, secret negotiations are underway to exchange the journalist with the US. In order for this to happen, according to Russian practice, a verdict must be reached. In this way, the power apparatus repeatedly releases imprisoned Russians.
The Kremlin is known to be seeking to release a citizen convicted of murder in Berlin’s Tiergarten in 2021. He was convicted of taking revenge on behalf of Moscow because the Georgian allegedly killed a Russian soldier in the Chechen war.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
