Moscow authorities have extended the pretrial detention of Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich on espionage charges until the end of March, meaning he will spend at least a year behind bars in Russia. The details of the criminal case against Gershkovich are classified, and the court hearings have taken place behind closed doors. The US Consul General attended the hearing, and Gershkovich’s detention has been extended multiple times without detailed evidence to support the espionage charges.
Russian President Vladimir Putin confirmed that Moscow is in talks with Washington on sending Gershkovich and another jailed American, Paul Whelan, back to the US, although he admitted that finding a solution is “not easy.” He mentioned an offer from the US administration to secure their release, which was rejected by Russia. The Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has stated that they will consider a swap for Gershkovich only after a verdict in his trial, and espionage trials in Russia can last for more than a year.
Gershkovich, who was detained while on a reporting trip to Russia, is the first US reporter to be charged with espionage in the country since 1986 when Nicholas Daniloff was arrested. He is being held at Moscow’s Lefortovo prison, known for its harsh conditions. The US government has insisted that both Gershkovich and Whelan have been wrongfully detained by Russian authorities.