WSJ reporter Evan Gershkovich to stand trial in Russia on espionage charges
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Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich inside a defendants' cage in a Moscow court in April 2024. Photo: Natalia KolesnikovaAFP via Getty Images
Wall Street Journal journalist Evan Gershkovich will stand trial for espionage charges, Russian prosecutors said in a statement Thursday.
Why it matters: A trial would likely resemble other sham proceedings against Americans detained in Russia and political opponents of the Kremlin. Moscow may use it to ratchet up pressure on the U.S. in ongoing prisoner swap talks for Gershkovich.
Context: Gershkovich, the first journalist to be arrested and held on spying charges in Russia since the Cold War, has been in jail for over a year without formal charges or a trial.
- The U.S. Department of State designated him as wrongfully detained, and the Journal has repeatedly defended his reporting, rejected Russia's espionage claims and called for his release.
- Russian authorities have yet to present evidence to support their claims and did not schedule the trial for a specific date.
Driving the news: The office of Russia's General Prosecutor said it approved an indictment against Gershkovich, claiming an investigation found he had collected information about a tank factory in March 2023 "on instructions from the CIA."
- It said the preliminary investigation was carried out by Russia's Federal Security Service, or FSB, the successor agency to the KGB.
- Gershkovich will be stand trial in the city of Yekaterinburg, where he was arrested.
- The alleged information pertained to mass tank manufacturer UralVagonZavod.
The State Department did not immediately respond to Axios' request for comment Thursday.
Between the lines: The indictment against Gershkovich comes a day after the U.S. Treasury announced additional sanctions against entities it said were helping fuel Russia's defense industry and continue Moscow's war against Ukraine.
- Among the companies sanctioned were UralVagonZavod, one of its subsidiaries and a China-based company that provided items critical to Russia's military-industrial base to other entities that have supplied UralVagonZavod.
The big picture: Gershkovich is one of several U.S. citizens detained in Russia on charges denounced by the U.S. and international organizations.
- Former Marine Paul Whelan, who was accused of spying, has been detained since 2018 and is considered wrongfully detained.
- Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty journalist Alsu Kurmasheva, a U.S. dual citizen, has also been in detention for months after being accused of failing to register as a foreign agent.
Go deeper: Ukraine strikes Moscow's most advanced fighter jet inside Russia
Editor's note: This story has been updated with additional details and context.
