United States journalist Evan Gershkovich has been convicted of espionage by a Russian court and sentenced to 16 years in a high-security penal colony, following a secretive trial condemned as a “sham” by his employer, his family, and the White House.
The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reporter was initially detained last March while on a reporting trip in Yekaterinburg, roughly 1,600km (1,000 miles) east of Moscow, by security services.
Prosecutors accused him of espionage for the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), charges that Gershkovich, the WSJ, and the US government vehemently deny.
This is the first conviction of an American journalist for espionage in Russia since the end of the Cold War over 30 years ago.
Both sides in the case have 15 days to appeal the verdict, according to the judge.
“This disgraceful, sham conviction follows Evan’s 478 days of wrongful imprisonment, kept away from his family and friends, and barred from reporting, simply for doing his job as a journalist,” WSJ publisher Almar Latour and Editor in Chief Emma Tucker said in a statement.
“We will continue to do everything in our power to secure Evan’s release and support his family.
“Journalism is not a crime, and we will not stop until he is freed. This must end now.”
Washington alleges that Russia is holding Gershkovich as a bargaining tool, potentially for a prisoner exchange involving Russian nationals in foreign jails.
However, Moscow understands that the US is willing to negotiate swaps to free its own citizens, and the two nations have been discussing such an exchange.
Russian analysts suggest that a swift conviction could signal an imminent exchange. According to Russian legal practice, a verdict is typically required before an exchange can proceed.
In February, Russian President Vladimir Putin hinted at a potential swap in an interview with US journalist Tucker Carlson.
It is believed he was referring to Vadim Krasikov, a Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) operative serving a life sentence in Germany for the assassination of a former Chechen rebel commander in Berlin.
Evan Gershkovich’s trial began last month, and the final two days of proceedings had initially been set for August. Prosecutors sought an 18-year prison term.
Unexpectedly, the hearing was moved up to Thursday, with the judge delivering the verdict late on Friday afternoon.
In the indictment, prosecutors claimed that Gershkovich, 32, was acting “on orders from the CIA” to gather “classified information” regarding a tank production facility in the Sverdlovsk region.
The journalist has consistently refuted these allegations, and on Thursday, the WSJ described the trial as a “shameful mockery” and labelled his imprisonment an “outrage.”
Nancy Mbamalu
Source: BBC
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