A Russian court keeps ‘Wall Street Journal’ correspondent Evan Gershkovich in pretrial detention

2023-04-18 12:44:10

The Moscow Urban Court has rejected this Tuesday the appeal of the defense against the arrest of the correspondent of the The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) arrested in Russia for alleged espionage, Evan Gershkovich, and remains in pretrial detention. The verdict involves “leaving unchanged the decision of the trial court on the injunction in the form of arrest for Gershkovich,” the court says.

Russia detains a Wall Street Journal journalist and charges him with espionage

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The appeal trial against the arrest was held this Tuesday at the Moscow Urban Court. The defense of the American has appealed the two months of preventive detention that the reporter was imposed on March 30 during a closed-door hearing without the presence of lawyers or the media.

The images have shown Gershkovich standing with his arms crossed inside a glass module, dressed in a blue checkered shirt and outlining a smile. The court was also attended by the United States ambassador to Russia, Lynne Tracy, who, after receiving authorization from Moscow, was able to visit her fellow citizen the day before for the first time “since his illegal detention more than two weeks ago,” Tracy said in a message posted on the Twitter account of the US Embassy.

The US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, on Tuesday called for the “immediate release” of the journalist. “We continue to call for his immediate release,” Blinken said at a press conference after participating in the G7 summit of foreign ministers that concluded in Japan.

The head of US diplomacy added that the journalist is in “good health and spirits, under the circumstances” while he remains in pretrial detention at the Lefortovo prison in the Russian capital.

Media are allowed to take photos and videos of Evan in the cage, but not speak to him. He can’t say anything back either.

At right, @usembru ambassador to Moscow Lynne Tracey, in the blue jacket. She visited Evan in prison yesterday. pic.twitter.com/Gn9jlwubb0

— max seddon (@maxseddon) April 18, 2023

On April 7, the Federal Security Service – the former KGB – formally accused the American journalist, arrested on March 29 in the Russian city of Yekaterinburg, of espionage.

Dozens of independent Russian journalists wrote a letter demanding their release and calling the charge of espionage gratuitous under article 276 of the penal code, a charge that carries up to 20 years in prison.

Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zajárova said on Monday that those diplomats who create division in Russian society will be expelled after dozens of Western diplomats appeared at the trial against opposition leader Vladimir Kara-Murzá, who was sentenced to 25 years in jail.

Both the White House and The Wall Street Journal They have denied the accusations by the Russian security forces against their correspondent and have demanded his immediate release.