Shocking Update: Wall Street Journal Reporter Evan Gershkovich Denied Release Again!
Moscow court denies Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich's appeal for release on espionage charges, upholding his pre-trial detention
A Moscow court has denied Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich's appeal against his pre-trial detention on espionage charges, as reported by Russian state media. This decision marks another legal setback for Gershkovich, who has had his pre-trial detention extended twice since his arrest, first in May and then again in August. His initial appeal against the pre-trial detention was also rejected.
As per Russia's Tass news agency, the recent court ruling dictates that Gershkovich will continue to be incarcerated until at least November 30. Back in March, Gershkovich was apprehended during a reporting expedition, with the country's principal security service, the FSB, accusing him of attempting to acquire classified information. Both Gershkovich and his employer have vehemently refuted these allegations.
If found guilty, he could potentially serve a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. Gershkovich was observed within a transparent enclosure, garbed in jeans and a light-colored shirt, shortly before the commencement of the hearing. US Ambassador to Russia, Lynne Tracy, was also present in the courtroom.
Tracy reiterated the steadfastness of the US position, declaring the unfounded nature of the charges against Evan. She condemned the Russian government's incarceration of Evan, highlighting that he was simply fulfilling his professional duties as a journalist. Tracy addressed reporters outside the courthouse, asserting that journalism should not be considered a criminal act. Furthermore, she disclosed her recent visit to Evan at the infamous Lefortovo prison in Russia, where he is currently detained.
"Evan is well aware of the seriousness of his predicament, but he displays remarkable strength," she remarked, noting that he maintains mental acuity by engaging in correspondence chess with his father.
The ongoing incarceration of Gershkovich has caused friction between Washington and Moscow, further straining their already tense relationship due to Russia's invasion of Ukraine in the previous year.
The Kremlin is accused by the White House of using Gershkovich, an American journalist who is the first to be jailed in Russia on spying charges since the Cold War, as a geopolitical hostage.
"The charges against Evan are unsubstantiated and the world recognizes that - he was detained in Russia while fulfilling his duties as a journalist, and Russia is holding him as a means of exerting pressure due to his American nationality," noted White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre in July, marking Gershkovich's 100th day in custody.
In April, the US State Department officially declared that Gershkovich had been unlawfully imprisoned, allowing the Biden administration to pursue his release by means of prisoner exchanges. However, discussions between the White House and the Kremlin regarding a potential swap have been ineffective in securing his freedom.
President Joe Biden expressed his determination to prioritize the liberation of unlawfully detained American citizens, whether in Russia or any other location. He emphasized that efforts are already in progress to achieve this goal. Contributors to this report include Niamh Kennedy, Matthew Chance, Jack Guy, and Joshua Berlinger from CNN.
