Russian authorities have formally charged American journalist Evan Gershkovich with spying, according to local media reports. The Wall Street Journal reporter was arrested last week in the city of Yekaterinburg while working on a story. The media reports have said that he categorically denies the accusations against him. The newspaper has demanded his immediate release.
The Kremlin has claimed that Mr Gershkovich was caught “red-handed” during his arrest. The White House has condemned his detention in the strongest terms, and Senate Republican and Democratic leaders have demanded the baseless, fabricated charges be dropped and he be immediately released.
In a statement, the WSJ has called the charges “categorically false and unjustified” and continues to demand his immediate release. US officials have said they have sought access to Mr Gershkovich but have not been able to visit him.
The Russian foreign ministry has said that the issue of consular access is being resolved, but added that the “fuss in the US about this case, which was aimed at pressurising the Russian authorities… was hopeless and senseless”.
The FSB security service has alleged that Mr Gershkovich had been “acting on US instructions” and had “collected information classified as a state secret about the activities of a Russian defence enterprise”. Espionage in Russia carries a maximum jail term of 20 years.
In his most recent WSJ piece, Mr Gershkovich reported on Russia’s declining economy and how the Kremlin was having to deal with “ballooning military expenditures” while maintaining social spending. He has covered Russia for the Wall Street Journal for more than a year, having worked there previously for the AFP news agency and the Moscow Times. Reporters Without Borders has said he had gone to Yekaterinburg to cover Russian mercenary group Wagner, which has taken part in some of the heaviest fighting in eastern Ukraine.
The US journalist’s arrest has sparked international outrage, with journalists and press freedom advocates calling for his immediate release
