A court in Russia has extended the pre-trial detention of US journalist Evan Gershkovich, who has been arrested for alleged espionage, by three months. The United States demanded “immediate release”.
The US journalist Evan Gershkovich, who was arrested in Russia, has to remain in custody for another three months. “The court has approved a request by the investigating authorities (…) to extend the detention until August 30,” the Russian state news agency Ria Novosti quoted the court’s press office as saying on Tuesday. With this decision, the court follows the demands of the Russian domestic secret service FSB.
Evan Gershkovich arrested in Russia in March
The Wall Street Journal reporter was arrested in March. Russia accuses him of espionage, which Gershkovich categorically denies, as does the US government. Originally, his custody should end on May 29th.
According to the Kremlin, the trial will take place behind closed doors due to the confidentiality of the espionage allegations. Court documents are also not published.
Gershkovich is the first foreign journalist to be arrested for espionage in Russia since the collapse of the Soviet Union. He is serving his pre-trial detention in Moscow’s Lefortovo prison, known for almost completely isolating its inmates.
US Ambassador Lynne Tracy visited the reporter in prison in mid-April and said he was in “good health”. Two more consular visits were denied by Russian authorities after the US failed to issue visas to several Russian journalists for a planned trip.
Source: Stern
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