Evan Gershkovich, a Wall Street Journal reporter who has been in prison since last March, is facing charges of espionage in Russia. The final version of the accusation against him has been transferred to the Sverdolovsk District Court of Yekaterinburg. The Prosecutor General’s Office of the Russian Federation made this announcement but did not specify when the trial will begin.
Gershkovich is accused of gathering intelligence on the Uralvagonzavod defense enterprise in Nizhny Tagil on behalf of the American special services. However, he maintains his innocence and states that he was simply conducting journalistic activities in Russia. The Wall Street Journal has also denied these allegations, and both US authorities and international organizations have called for his release. The US State Department has labeled his detention as “illegal” and continues to advocate for his rights. It remains uncertain when the trial will officially begin and what the outcome will be for Gershkovich.