A Russian judge sentenced Evan Gershkovich, an American reporter jailed in Russia and charged with spying on a tank factory, to 16 years in a maximum security penal colony. The 32-year-old journalist’s sentence came down on Friday, July 19, after a fast, closed-door trial.
Gershkovich was working in Russia for The Wall Street Journal when he was arrested in March of 2023. Russia accused him of working for the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency. Moscow said he tried to gather sensitive information on a tank factory that makes T-90Ms. Those are what Vladimir Putin called the “best tank in the world.”
The Wall Street Journal called the decision a “disgraceful sham conviction,” and that Russia wrongfully detained Gershkovich and kept from his family simply for doing his job.
“We will continue to do everything possible to press for Evan’s release and to support his family,” the WSJ said in a statement. “Journalism is not a crime, and we will not rest until he’s released.”
The U.S. State Department also rejected the allegations against Gershkovich, who is the first American journalist accused of spying in Russia since the Cold War. His trial moved quickly compared to most espionage cases there, leading some foreign affairs and national security experts to speculate that the journalist is part of a prisoner exchange.
Russian officials typically wrap up legal cases against foreign nationals before considering any sort of deals.
The Kremlin declined to comment on whether any negotiations to free Gershkovich, or any other Americans held in Russia, are taking place. However, Putin did previously state Russia is open to the idea of a prisoner exchange involving Gershkovich and another jailed American, former U.S. Marine Paul Whelan. Putin said contact with the U.S. had taken place, but must remain secret. The U.S. State Department does not speak publicly about ongoing negotiations on prisoner exchanges.
Reuters contributed to this report.
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