Russian prosecutors have urged a judge to sentence Wall Street Journal journalist Evan Gershkovich to 18 years in prison on espionage charges, according to state media reports. The trial, held in the Sverdlovsk region and closed off to the media, has sparked criticism in the Western world.
Following closing arguments on Friday, journalists outside the court stated that a final verdict was set to be delivered at 5:00 pm local time. The trial, originally scheduled for August 13, was moved up at the request of Gershkovich’s defense team.
Gershkovich, a former correspondent for The Moscow Times, was arrested in Russia during a reporting trip in March 2023, becoming the first Western journalist detained on spying charges since the Cold War. The United States has labeled his detention as wrongful, with The Wall Street Journal dismissing the accusations as baseless.
While the Kremlin alleges Gershkovich was collecting classified information for the CIA, the details of his case remain undisclosed. President Vladimir Putin has hinted at a potential prisoner exchange with the US involving Gershkovich, who could face up to 20 years in prison if found guilty.
AFP contributed reporting.