YEKATERINBURG, Russia (AP) — Russian prosecutors sought a jail sentence of 18 years on Friday for Wall Avenue Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, who’s on trial on espionage fees that his employer and the U.S. have denounced as fabricated.
Gershkovich, 32, was arrested March 29, 2023, whereas on a reporting journey to the Ural Mountains metropolis of Yekaterinburg. Authorities claimed, with out providing any proof, that he was gathering secret info for the U.S. He pleaded not responsible, in keeping with the court docket, and The Wall Avenue Journal and the U.S. authorities have referred to as the trial a sham.
Gershkovich appeared in court docket for a second straight day Friday because the closed-door proceedings in Russia’s extremely politicized authorized system picked up velocity. A verdict is anticipated later within the day, in keeping with court docket officers.
In contrast to earlier periods wherein reporters have been allowed to see Gershkovich briefly earlier than periods started, there was no entry to the courtroom this week and he was not seen, with no rationalization given. Espionage and treason instances are usually shrouded in secrecy.
Courtroom officers stated the prosecutors requested an 18-year sentence in a high-security jail throughout closing arguments. Russian courts convict greater than 99% of defendants, and prosecutors can enchantment sentences that they regard as too lenient. They even can enchantment acquittals.
Sverdlovsk Regional Courtroom/Anadolu through Getty Pictures
“Evan’s wrongful detention has been an outrage since his unjust arrest 477 days ago, and it must end now,” the Journal stated Thursday in a press release. “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 Division has declared Gershkovich “wrongfully detained,” committing the federal government to assertively search his launch.
Russian International Minister Sergey Lavrov stated Wednesday on the United Nations that Moscow and Washington’s “special services” are discussing an trade involving Gershkovich. Russia has beforehand signaled the opportunity of a swap, but it surely says a verdict must come first. Even after a verdict, any such deal might take months or years.
State Division deputy spokesman Vedant Patel on Thursday declined to debate negotiations a few doable trade, however stated: “We have been clear from the get-go that Evan did nothing wrong and should not have been detained. To date, Russia has provided no evidence of a crime and has failed to justify Evan’s continued detention.”
Gershkovich’s trial started June 26 in Yekaterinburg after he spent about 15 months in in Moscow’s infamous Lefortovo Jail.
The Russian Prosecutor Normal’s workplace stated final month the journalist is accused of “gathering secret information” on orders from the CIA about Uralvagonzavod, a plant about 150 kilometers (90 miles) north of Yekaterinburg that produces and repairs tanks and different army tools.
Lavrov on Wednesday reaffirmed the Kremlin declare that the federal government has “irrefutable evidence” in opposition to Gershkovich, though neither he nor some other Russian official has ever disclosed it.
Gershkovich’s employer and U.S. officers have dismissed the fees as phony.
“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,” White Home nationwide safety spokesperson John Kirby stated final month.
Russia’s interpretation of what constitutes excessive crimes like espionage and treason is broad, with authorities typically going after individuals who share publicly out there info with foreigners and accusing them of divulging state secrets and techniques.
Earlier this month, U.N. human rights consultants stated Russia violated worldwide legislation by jailing Gershkovich and may launch him “immediately.”
Arrests of Individuals are more and more frequent in Russia, with 9 U.S. residents identified to be detained there as tensions between the 2 nations have escalated over combating in Ukraine.
U.S. Ambassador to the U.N., Linda Thomas-Greenfield accused Moscow of treating “human beings as bargaining chips.” She singled out Gershkovich and ex-Marine Paul Whelan, 53, a company safety director from Michigan, who’s serving a 16-year sentence after being convicted on spying fees that he and the U.S. denied.
