2024-04-30 07:10:06
It has been more than a year since Wall Street Journal journalist Evan Gershkovich was detained in Yekaterinburg, Russia, on charges of espionage, sparking a diplomatic standoff between the White House and the Kremlin. Despite vehement denials from Gershkovich, the newspaper and the US authorities, a Moscow court confirmed his detention on Tuesday until June 30, 2024, rejecting the journalist’s last appeal.
Gershkovich, 32, a U.S. citizen, has been behind bars without trial since his arrest in March of last year. He was initially captured on accusations of attempting to collect sensitive military information, charges that Western officials and media organizations widely dismissed as unfounded.
His imprisonment comes amid high tensions between Washington and Moscow, largely due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The US State Department has called Gershkovich “unjustly detained,” reflecting American belief that his case has more to do with political pressure than legitimate legal issues. For its part, the Wall Street Journal has consistently called the Russian government’s actions “scandalous” and demanded Gershkovich’s immediate release.
In his few appearances before the media, Gershkovich has maintained his composure and shares smiles and gestures of calm with journalists. These appearances stand in stark contrast to the seriousness of his situation and the notorious reputation of Moscow’s Lefortovo prison, where he is being held. In the 1930s, during the “Great Terror” (1936-1938), the prison was used by Joseph Stalin’s People’s Commissariat for Internal Affairs of the Soviet Union (known as the NKVD) for the torture and execution of political opponents. Later, under the KGB, Lefortovo was an interrogation site for political prisoners.
In parallel, speculation about a possible prisoner exchange has abounded. In the past, Russia has shown a willingness to engage in such exchanges, as seen with the release of WNBA basketball player Brittney Griner, detained for possession of a small dose of cannabis oil, in exchange for Russian arms dealer Viktor But in 2022. Russian President Vladimir Putin hinted at a possible deal involving Vadim Krasikov, a Russian imprisoned in Germany, although no deal has been reached.
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2024-04-30 07:10:06