American reporter Evan Gershkovich sentenced to 16 years in prison in Russia

This was reported by Radio Liberty. 

It is stated that the prosecution asked for 18 years in prison, but Gershkovich was sentenced to 16 years in a maximum security colony.

According to the investigation, the American reporter allegedly collected information about the Russian Uralvagonzavod, which manufactures and repairs military equipment, on behalf of the CIA. After his detention, the journalist spent 15 months in a pre-trial detention center.

Gershkovich pleaded not guilty. He stated that he was engaged in exclusively journalistic activities in Russia. However, the investigation did not provide public evidence of his alleged espionage activities. 

The Wall Street Journal called the verdict "shameful" and fabricated

What is known about the detention of American journalist Gershkovich

At the end of March 2023, the Russian FSB detained The Wall Street Journal journalist Evan Gershkovich in Yekaterinburg (Ural, Russia), who was to write about Russian attitudes to the war in Ukraine and the recruitment of locals to the Wagner PMC. He was arrested in an espionage case.

The very next day, US President Joe Biden commented on Gershkovich's detention and espionage charges and called on the Russian authorities to release the journalist.

It has also been reported that The Wall Street Journal journalist Evan Gershkovich, who was detained in Yekaterinburg, was previously under surveillance by Russian special services.

Subsequently, Russian FSB investigators formally charged Evan Gershkovich with espionage. The journalist denied the charges.

In September 2023, Russia offered to exchange journalist Gershkovich and another American for FSB killer Krasikov, who was imprisoned for the murder of a Chechen commander.

On January 26, a court in Moscow orders a two-month extension of the detention of Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, whom the United States considers to be illegally detained in Russia.

On March 26, a Moscow court ruled to keep American Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich in prison on espionage charges until at least 30 June.