WSJ journalist Evan Gershkovich sentenced to 16 years in Russian penal colony
Evan Gershkovich (Russian media)
The Sverdlovsk Regional Court sentenced The Wall Street Journal correspondent Evan Gershkovich to 16 years in a high-security prison. The Russians falsely accuse him of espionage, reports The Wall Street Journal.
Russian prosecutor Mikael Ozdoev asked the court to sentence the American journalist to 18 years in prison.
The court completed the trial in two sessions, held closed on June 26 and July 18.
Russian prosecutors accuse the WSJ reporter of allegedly collecting information about the Russian defense contractor Uralvagonzavod on behalf of the CIA. Gershkovich was accredited in Russia and was in Yekaterinburg and other cities in the Sverdlovsk region, preparing reports for the media.
What is known about Gershkovich's detention
At the end of March 2023, The Wall Street Journal journalist Evan Hershkovich was detained in the Russian city of Yekaterinburg for "spying".
According to Western media, Russian President Vladimir Putin personally ordered the detention of the correspondent. The United States called Gershkovich's arrest illegal and demanded his release.
CNN reported that the US tried to exchange the journalist, but it did not take place. A UN working group confirmed that the arrest of Evan Hershkovich had no legal basis.
