Evan Gershkovich was detained in the spring of 2023 in Ekaterinburg. Russian authorities accused him of espionage.

According to the investigators, the journalist was commissioned by the CIA to collect information about Uralvagonzavod, which manufactures and repairs military equipment. The investigation claims that this information constitutes a state secret. Courts regularly extend the journalist’s stay in pre-trial detention.

Gershkovich does not admit guilt, insisting that he was engaged in Russia only in journalistic activities.

The U.S. authorities, human rights and journalistic international organisations have repeatedly urged Moscow to release the journalist. The US State Department has labelled Gershkovich as “unlawfully detained”.

Several sources close to Russian and U.S. political circles said that Gershkovich could be held for exchange for any of the Russians in U.S. prisons. In December 2023, US authorities said that Russia had rejected an offer to release the journalist.

Source: severreal.org