Updated with sentencing, Smirnov’s comments, White House statement.
A judge in Russia’s Sverdlovsk region sentenced Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich to 16 years in prison on spying charges, a verdict denounced by Washington and the journalist’s employer as a sham.
Gershkovich, who spent nearly 500 days in pre-trial detention, can appeal the sentence imposed by the judge. State prosecutors had sought an 18-year sentence, but Gershkovich pleaded not guilty.
The Wall Street Journal strongly criticized the verdict, emphasizing that journalism is not a crime. Gershkovich, the first Western journalist to be arrested and convicted in Russia since the Cold War, faced a swift trial, hinting at potential negotiations for a prisoner exchange.
The U.S. government and President Joe Biden vehemently condemned the situation, calling for Gershkovich’s release and terming his detention as wrongful. The sentencing has drawn global attention, sparking discussions about potential diplomatic implications and efforts for his release.
Gershkovich’s trial is seen as part of a broader trend of “hostage diplomacy,” with several Americans currently detained in Russia on disputed charges.