Russia Seeks 18-Year Sentence for US Reporter Evan Gershkovich

Russian prosecutors are seeking an 18-year prison sentence for American news reporter Evan Gershkovich, who is on trial on espionage charges.

Both his employer, The Wall Street Journal, and the U.S. State Department have denounced the charges as fabricated. Gershkovich pleaded not guilty.

The 32-year-old was arrested March 29, 2023, while on a reporting trip to the Ural Mountains city of Yekaterinburg. Authorities claimed, without offering any evidence, that he was gathering secret information for the U.S.

Gershkovich appeared in court for a second straight day Friday at the closed-door proceedings. A verdict is expected later in the day, according to court officials speaking to The Associated Press.

Prosecutors argued for an 18-year term in a high-security prison, a request made during their closing statements.

More than 99% of defendants are convicted under Russia's judicial system, and prosecutors can appeal sentences they find too lenient.

"Evan's wrongful detention has been an outrage since his unjust arrest 477 days ago, and it must end now," The Wall Street Journal said in a statement.

"Even as Russia orchestrates its shameful sham trial, we continue to do everything we can to push for Evan's immediate release and to state unequivocally: Evan was doing his job as a journalist, and journalism is not a crime. Bring him home now."

The U.S. State Department has classified Gershkovich as "wrongfully detained," committing to robust efforts for his release.

Negotiations for a potential prisoner exchange between Moscow and Washington have been hinted at, though any deal is contingent on the trial's outcome and could take considerable time to materialize.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has previously suggested a swap involving Gershkovich and Vadim Krasikov, a Russian national serving a life sentence in Germany for the assassination of a Georgian citizen.

Gershkovich's trial, which began on June 26 in Yekaterinburg, follows his 15-month incarceration in Moscow's Lefortovo Prison. The Russian Prosecutor General's office has accused him of gathering secret information on behalf of the CIA about Uralvagonzavod, a tank and military equipment plant.

Despite claims from Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov of "irrefutable evidence," no proof has been publicly disclosed.

"Evan has never been employed by the United States government. Evan is not a spy. Journalism is not a crime. And Evan should never have been detained in the first place," stated White House national security spokesperson John Kirby.

The U.N. has also weighed in, with human rights experts calling Gershkovich's detention a violation of international law and demanding his immediate release.

The arrest reflects a troubling trend, as nine Americans are currently detained in Russia amid heightened tensions over the conflict in Ukraine.

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