Russian accuses Wall Avenue Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich of working for the CIA : NPR

U.S. journalist Evan Gershkovich stands inside a defendants' cage during a pretrial detention hearing at the Moscow City Court in Moscow on Sept. 19, 2023. Gershkovich was detained during a reporting trip in Russia in March 2023 and accused of spying — charges that he, the U.S. government and his employer, The Wall Street Journal, vehemently deny.

U.S. journalist Evan Gershkovich stands inside a defendants’ cage throughout a pretrial detention listening to on the Moscow Metropolis Court docket in Moscow on Sept. 19, 2023. Gershkovich was detained throughout a reporting journey in Russia in March 2023 and accused of spying — costs that he, the U.S. authorities and his employer, The Wall Avenue Journal, vehemently deny.

Natalia Kolesnikova/AFP by way of Getty Photos

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Natalia Kolesnikova/AFP by way of Getty Photos

Russian prosecutors introduced on Thursday that they’ve finalized an indictment towards jailed American journalist Evan Gershkovich, and stated he’ll stand trial on espionage costs within the Russian metropolis of Yekaterinburg, the place he was arrested greater than a yr in the past.

Gershkovich, 32, was arrested whereas on a reporting journey for The Wall Avenue Journal in late March 2023 and is accused of spying for america. Gershkovich has vehemently denied the allegations towards him — as has the Journal — and President Biden has known as his detention “completely unlawful.” The U.S. authorities has designated Gershkovich “wrongfully detained,” which means the federal government successfully considers him a political prisoner.

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Russian authorities allege that Gershkovich used covert strategies to assemble details about the Uralvagonzavod manufacturing facility exterior the Ural mountain city of Yekaterinburg — a facility that has been sanctioned by the West and performs a major position constructing tanks and different weapons for Russia in its conflict towards Ukraine.

In a press release posted to Telegram, Russia’s Prosecutor Common’s workplace alleged that Gershkovich had “collected secret info” below “directions from the CIA.” However prosecutors haven’t publicly offered any info or proof to assist their claims, and on the time of his arrest, Gershkovich had been accredited to work in Russia by the nation’s overseas ministry.

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Prosecutors didn’t say when the proceedings towards Gershkovich would start, however as soon as they do, he faces the prospect of a trial behind closed doorways provided that Russian officers say the case includes labeled info. If discovered responsible, he might function a lot as 20 years in jail.

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Gershkovich is presently being held in pretrial detention at Lefortovo jail in Moscow, the place in response to the Journal he has been confined 23 hours a day to his cell, leaving just for conferences along with his attorneys or U.S. embassy officers, and for infrequent court docket appearances.