Russian espionage trial of US reporter Evan Gershkovich is reaching its conclusion at the Sverdlovsk Regional Court, labeled as a sham by Washington. Prosecutors seek an 18-year sentence for Gershkovich, charged with spying and date set for the verdict.
Gershkovich, a Wall Street Journal correspondent, is accused of gathering information for the CIA on a defense equipment factory in Nizhny Tagil. The trial has progressed rapidly, sparking speculation of a possible US-Russia prisoner exchange.
The case has drawn international attention, with the US State Department labeling Gershkovich’s detention as wrongful. As tensions escalate between Moscow and Washington, the trial is seen as an attempt at “hostage diplomacy.”
In a plea for justice, the Wall Street Journal denounces the trial as a ‘sham’ and calls for Gershkovich’s immediate release. Born to immigrant parents from the USSR, Gershkovich’s case represents a significant milestone in post-Soviet espionage accusations against Western journalists in Russia.