Tell every American, journalist or not, to avoid Russia. Stay away from the country until the current conflict and political atmosphere are in the past. Russia is adding Americans to their prisons for a reason.
For nearly fifteen months, Evan Gershkovich has been confined in a Moscow jail. Today, the Wall Street Journal reporter’s trial commenced far from the Russian capital in Yekaterinburg, where he was arrested on espionage charges during a reporting trip.
A group of media representatives, including us, were allowed into the courtroom at the Sverdlovsk Regional Courthouse to see Gershkovich before the trial began. With his head shaved and dressed in a checkered shirt and jeans, Gershkovich stood in the metal and glass cage known as “the aquarium” in Russian courtrooms. He smiled at the cameras but remained silent. Shortly after, we were asked to leave, and the trial will now proceed behind closed doors.
.@wsj: Falsely Accused WSJ Reporter Evan Gershkovich in Court for Secret Trial https://t.co/txxFos35lr
— Amb Antonio Garza (@aogarza) June 26, 2024
Prosecutors allege that Gershkovich was gathering classified information about a Russian tank manufacturer on behalf of the CIA. Gershkovich, the Wall Street Journal, and the U.S. government firmly deny these charges. If convicted, Gershkovich faces a maximum sentence of twenty years in prison.
The White House has condemned Russia’s actions, stating that Gershkovich is being used as a “bargaining chip.” National Security Spokesman John Kirby declared, “Evan is not a spy,” calling the process “bogus” and “outrageous.” Deborah Ball, deputy world coverage chief for Europe, the Middle East, and Africa at the Wall Street Journal, echoed these sentiments, emphasizing the lack of due process Gershkovich will face in the Russian judicial system, where acquittal rates are less than one percent.
US journalist Evan Gershkovich appeared in court in the Russian city of Yekaterinburg on Wednesday, facing accusations from prosecutors of spying for US intelligence. The court proceedings saw Gershkovich, a Wall Street Journal reporter, standing in a glass box with a shaved… pic.twitter.com/3Z0aDnR4IY
— Huginn and Muninn Intelligence (@HM_Int3lligence) June 26, 2024
Gershkovich’s family expressed their deep disappointment in a statement, describing the past 15 months as “extraordinarily painful” and criticizing the efforts to discredit him.
In Yekaterinburg, life seems to continue as usual. The steakhouse where Gershkovich was detained on March 29, 2023, still operates, and people go about their daily routines, playing chess and watching trams rumble by, seemingly unaffected by the unfolding drama.
Evan Gershkovich: US journalist in court as spy trial starts in Russia https://t.co/anojTHD67r
— David M. Wagner (@david_m_wagner) June 26, 2024
The Wall Street Journal has accused Moscow of “stockpiling Americans” in Russian prisons to use as leverage for Russians held abroad. This trial highlights the tense geopolitical landscape and the complex dynamics between the U.S. and Russia.
Key Points:
i. Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich’s trial for espionage began in Yekaterinburg, Russia, after being detained for nearly fifteen months.
ii. Gershkovich is accused of gathering classified information on a Russian tank manufacturer for the CIA, charges he, his employer, and the U.S. government vehemently deny.
iii. The trial is being conducted behind closed doors, and there is little expectation of acquittal, given Russia’s low acquittal rate and lack of due process.
iv. The White House and the Wall Street Journal have condemned the trial, calling it a political maneuver, with the U.S. claiming Gershkovich is being used as a “bargaining chip.”
v. Gershkovich’s family has expressed deep disappointment and pain over the situation, while life in Yekaterinburg continues unaffected by the high-profile case.
TL Holcomb – Reprinted with permission of Whatfinger News
