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Russia sentences American journalist Gershkovich to 16 years in prison for espionage

2024-07-19 16:17:00, Kosova & Bota CNA
Russia sentences American journalist Gershkovich to 16 years in prison for
Evan Gershkovich

American journalist Evan Gershkovich has been found guilty of espionage by a Russian court and sentenced to 16 years in prison after a secret trial described as a "fraud" by his employer, his family and the White House.

The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reporter was first arrested last March while on a reporting trip to the city of Yekaterinburg, about 1,600 km (1,000 miles) east of Moscow, by security services, the BBC reports.

Prosecutors accused him of working for the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), charges that Gershkovich, the WSJ and the US vehemently deny.

This marks the first conviction of an American journalist for espionage in Russia since the end of the Cold War more than 30 years ago.

Both sides in the trial have 15 days to appeal the decision, the judge said.

"This disgraceful, bogus sentence comes after Evan has spent 478 days in prison, wrongfully imprisoned, away from his family and friends, prevented from reporting, all because he did his job as a journalist," he said. Wall Street Journal publisher Almar Latour. 

"Journalism is not a crime and we will not rest until he is released. This has to end now," he said afterwards. 

Washington accuses Russia of keeping Gershkovich as a bargaining chip, to be used for a possible prisoner exchange for Russian nationals in foreign prisons.

But Moscow knows the US is prepared to make trade-offs to free its citizens, and the two countries are known to have discussed such a trade-off./ CNA 





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