Russian Court Rejects Appeal of Detained American Journalist Evan Gershkovich

A Russian court on Tuesday rejected the latest appeal by Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich against his pre-trial detention on charges of espionage. The First Appeals Court of General Jurisdiction in Moscow upheld a lower court's decision to keep Gershkovich in custody at Moscow's Lefortovo Prison, where he has been detained for more than a year after being arrested during a reporting trip in March 2022.

Gershkovich, 32, is the first American reporter to be held in Russia on accusations of espionage since the Cold War. He was arrested by the Federal Security Service (FSB) on March 29, 2022, despite being accredited by Russia's Foreign Ministry. Gershkovich, his newspaper, and the U.S. government deny that he is a spy.

The Wall Street Journal has called Gershkovich's detention "outrageous" and "wrongful," urging the U.S. administration to secure his release. The U.S. State Department has declared Gershkovich as wrongfully detained, and President Biden has said his administration is working to secure his release.

Why this matters: Gershkovich's case highlights the escalating tensions between the United States and Russia, particularly in the realm of press freedom. It also emphasizes the dangers encountered by journalists working in countries with strained diplomatic relations.

Gershkovich's detention has been extended until June 30, and no date has been set for his trial. The U.S. government has accused Russia of using Gershkovich for "hostage diplomacy," with President Biden stating that the administration will continue to denounce and impose costs for Russia's attempts to use Americans as bargaining chips. The Kremlin has said it has "certain contacts" with the U.S. about Gershkovich's case, but it will not comment publicly on negotiations over a potential exchange.

Key Takeaways

• Russian court rejects appeal by WSJ reporter Evan Gershkovich, held on espionage charges.
• Gershkovich is the first American reporter detained in Russia on espionage accusations since the Cold War.
• U.S. government declares Gershkovich as wrongfully detained, working to secure his release.
• Gershkovich's detention highlights tensions between U.S. and Russia, dangers for journalists in strained relations.
• U.S. accuses Russia of using Gershkovich for "hostage diplomacy", Russia in contact but won't comment publicly.