Key developments in the case against Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich in Russia have culminated in his conviction on espionage charges and a 16-year sentence in a maximum-security prison. Despite strong denials of the charges from Gershkovich, his employer, and the U.S. government, the trial proceeded swiftly in Russia’s highly politicized legal system.
The chain of events started on March 29, 2023, when Gershkovich, 31 at the time and on a reporting trip, was arrested in Yekaterinburg, Russia. The Federal Security Service (FSB) accused him the next day of collecting state secrets on U.S. orders, a claim vehemently rebuked by U.S. officials and The Wall Street Journal. Gershkovich was placed in pretrial detention in Lefortovo Prison.
On April 7, 2023, Gershkovich was formally charged with espionage, which he denied, stating he was only working as a journalist. The U.S. State Department designated him as wrongfully detained on April 10, 2023. Talks about a possible exchange were mentioned on April 13, 2023, through a dedicated channel between Russian and U.S. security agencies.
By June 26, 2024, Gershkovich’s trial began, held behind closed doors with intermittent media access. The Wall Street Journal and U.S. officials reiterated their condemnation of the trial, labeling it a sham. The swift trial saw Gershkovich convicted of espionage and sentenced to 16 years in prison on July 19, 2024, shortly after closing arguments were made behind closed doors.
