Russia today formally charged Wall Street Journal journalist, Evan Gershkovich, with espionage after he was detained on Wednesday, March 29
Russia has today officially charged American Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich with spying.
Mr Gershkovich, 31, was arrested in Yekaterinburg, Russia’s fourth-largest city, on March 29 and was today formally charged the US journalist with espionage.
He was accused of “acting on the instructions of the American side” and collecting information “constituting a state secret about the activities of one of the enterprises of the Russian military-industrial complex”.
The Wall Street Journal reporter is widely seen as a victim of repression by Vladimir Putin’s regime and “categorically denies” all allegations.
He was engaged in legitimate journalism when he was detained by the FSB security service, according to colleagues. If convicted, he faces up to 20 years in jail.
Russia’s Federal Security Service accused Gershkovich of trying to obtain classified information about a Russian arms factory. The Journal has denied the accusations.
State-run TASS news agency reported that Mr Gershkovich has denied the charge. Mr Gershkovich was ordered held behind bars for two months in Russia pending an investigation.
The US ambassador to Russia, Lynne T. Tracy, and Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkovand met on Thursday to discuss his case, the Russian Foreign Ministry said.
In a statement afterwards, the Russian side said: “It was emphasized that he was caught red-handed while trying to obtain secret information, using his journalistic status as a cover for illegal actions.”
The ministry added that “the hype in the United States around this case, which is aimed at putting pressure on the Russian authorities and the court, which should decide the fate of Gershkovich, is hopeless and senseless.”
Mr Gershkovich is the first US correspondent since the Cold War to be detained for alleged spying.
Lawyers representing Mr Gershkovich met with him on Tuesday for the first time since his detention, according to The Wall Street Journal.
Source: https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/us-news/breaking-russia-officially-charges-wall-29656781