The Wall Street Journal reporter, Evan Gershkovich, appeared in court in Moscow on Tuesday, April 18, 2023, the first time he had been seen in public for weeks. However, the Russian court has rejected Gershkovich’s appeal against his pre-trial detention.
In rejecting Gershkovich’s appeal to be released from pre-trial detention, the judge ruled that he must remain in jail until at least May 29, 2023. The journalist’s lawyers said that they petitioned for a house arrest or for Gershkovich to be released on bail of 50 million rubles (about $610,000) but were rejected.
The Wall Street Journal reporter is the first U.S. correspondent since the Cold War to be detained in Russia on spying allegations and his arrest rattled journalists in the country and elicited outrage in the West.
Dozens of journalists crowded into the courtroom to catch a glimpse of Gershkovich, who looked calm as he stood inside a glass cage to appeal his detention.
Media was allowed in the courtroom at the start of the hearing before being ushered out and will be permitted to return at the end of the hearing.
Russia’s Federal Security Service arrested the 31-year-old in Yekaterinburg in March and accused him of trying to obtain classified information about a Russian arms factory. Gershkovich, his employer and the U. S. government deny that he was involved in spying and have demanded his release.
“Evan is a member of the free press who right up until he was arrested was engaged in newsgathering. Any suggestions otherwise are false,” the Journal noted in a statement.
Along with Gershkovich’s lawyer, U.S Ambassador to Moscow, Lynne Tracy was also present in the courtroom.
This is the same court where Kremlin critic, Vladimir Kara-Murza was convicted of treason and sentenced to prison on Monday, April 17, 2023.
Gershkovich could face up to 20 years in prison if convicted. Russian lawyers have said that past investigations into espionage cases took a year to 18 months, during which time he could have little contact with the outside world.
The U.S. has pressed Moscow to grant consular access to the journalist. U.S. Ambassador Lynne Tracy, who attended Tuesday’s hearing, said on Monday, April 17, 2023, that she had visited Gershkovich in prison. She noted on Twitter that “he is in good health and remains strong,” reiterating a U.S. call for his immediate release.
One of Gershkovich’s lawyers, Maria Korchagina, remarked, “He has a fighting spirit. He’s working out and he knows that people are supporting him.”
Gershkovich’s Case In The Hands Of Special Envoy For Hostage Affairs
Gershkovich’s case is now being handled by the U.S special envoy for hostage affairs. U.S. President, Joe Biden spoke to Greshkovich’s parents last week and again condemned his detention. “We’re making it real clear that it’s totally illegal what’s happening, and we declared it so,” he said.
Both Republican and Democratic senators have condemned the reporter’s detention.
More than 40 countries, led by the U.S, released a joint statement at the United Nations on Monday calling for Gershkovich’s release and condemning Moscow for intimidating the media.
Gershkovich is the first American reporter to be arrested on espionage charges in Russia since 1986, when Nicholas Daniloff, a Moscow correspondent for U.S. News and World Report, was arrested.
Daniloff was released without charge 20 days later in a swap for an employee of the Soviet Union’s United Nations mission who was arrested by the FBI, also on spying charges.
Last week, a top Russian diplomat disclosed that Russia might be willing to discuss a potential prisoner swap with the U.S. involving Gershkovich after his trial. That means any exchange is unlikely to happen any time soon.
In December, 2022, American basketball star, Brittney Griner was exchanged for Russian arms dealer, Viktor Bout following her trial and conviction on drug possession charges. She had been sentenced to nine years in prison and ended up spending 10 months behind bars.
Another American, Michigan Corporate Security Executive, Paul Whelan, has been imprisoned in Russia since December 2018 on espionage charges, which his family and the U.S. government have called baseless.
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