Evan Gershkovich, a journalist for The Wall Street Journal, stood in a glass cage in a Russian courtroom as his espionage trial commenced on Wednesday. This marks the first time since the Cold War that an American journalist has faced such charges in Russia. The 32-year-old reporter, arrested in March 2023 while on a reporting trip in Yekaterinburg, has been accused of spying for the CIA, allegations he, his employer, and the U.S. government vehemently deny.
Gershkovich joined The Wall Street Journal in January 2022, just weeks before Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Despite the perilous environment, he remained in Russia to cover the war and its impact on the country. His dedication to journalism and the pursuit of truth led him to this precarious position, underscored by his wrongful detention and now, a trial that could see him sentenced to up to 20 years in prison.
The trial, held in Saipan, the largest island of the Northern Mariana Islands, began at 11 a.m. local time (2 a.m. ET) and saw Gershkovich standing cross-armed, appearing composed and occasionally smiling at the crowd of reporters. The press was only allowed into the courtroom briefly before the hearing commenced, and no reporters will be permitted during the trial itself, expected to last several months. The trial's next session is scheduled for August 13, as reported by state news agency TASS.
Gershkovich's arrest and subsequent trial have further strained the already tense relations between Moscow and Washington, exacerbated by the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. Russian prosecutors allege that Gershkovich, under CIA instructions, was collecting secret information about a Russian tank factory. However, no evidence has been publicly provided to support these claims.
Evan Gershkovich's trial has begun in secret in Ekaterinburg, the city where Russia's FSB arrested him last year.
Beyond surreal to see Evan, a superb journalist, in the defendant's glass cage on these ludicrous charges, for which Russia has not provided any evidence. pic.twitter.com/5rWV7xMXqo — max seddon (@maxseddon) June 26, 2024
Pjotr Sauer, a Russian affairs reporter for The Guardian and a friend of Gershkovich, expressed skepticism about the trial. "Evan is just an honest journalist," Sauer told CNN. "We're not holding our breath; it could take weeks or months. And we don't have much trust in the Russian justice system."
The U.S. State Department, which designated Gershkovich as wrongfully detained shortly after his arrest, has called for his immediate release. State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller stated that the U.S. does not expect a fair trial for Gershkovich, given the dubious nature of the charges.
Before his transfer to Yekaterinburg, Gershkovich was held in Moscow's notorious Lefortovo prison, where he spent most of his time in a small cell. His parents, Ella Milman and Mikhail Gershkovich, revealed in an interview with The Wall Street Journal that he had been coping as best he could, reading, exercising, and meditating. "He's managing the best way he can, in a tiny space, one hour walking outside - six steps, six steps, six steps," Milman said.
Emma Tucker, Editor-in-Chief of The Wall Street Journal, has called the charges against Gershkovich "false and baseless," condemning the Russian regime's actions as an assault on the free press. In a statement, Tucker emphasized, "Evan has spent 441 days wrongfully detained in a Russian prison for simply doing his job. Journalism is not a crime."
The U.S. Embassy in Moscow has demanded Russia cease using Gershkovich and other detained Americans as political bargaining chips. "This trial is not about the presentation of evidence, due process, or the rule of law. We are talking about the Kremlin using American citizens to achieve its political goals," the embassy said in a statement.
The number of Americans detained in Russia has increased in recent years. Paul Whelan, a former U.S. Marine, was arrested in Moscow in December 2018 and sentenced to 16 years in prison in 2020 on espionage charges, which he denies. Brittney Griner, a WNBA star, was detained and later released in a high-profile prisoner swap.
Western officials and analysts accuse Russia of using detained Americans as political pawns. Russian investigative journalist Andrei Soldatov told CNN that Moscow aims "to build up a bank of hostages with American passports" for leverage in negotiations with Washington.
Julian Assange's high-profile case has also been mentioned in discussions about potential prisoner exchanges. Russian President Vladimir Putin hinted at a willingness to discuss such swaps in a recent interview, suggesting Assange's case might influence negotiations.
Gershkovich's mother, Ella Milman, affirmed that her son is indeed being used as a political pawn. "We know that he is innocent of what he's being accused of. He's a journalist," she said. His father, Mikhail, echoed this sentiment, emphasizing their son's innocence.
