American-Jewish journalist Evan Gershkovich stands trial in Russian court for espionage

YEKATERINBURG, Russia — US journalist Evan Gershkovich appears in a Russian court for the start of his closed-door trial for espionage, 15 months after his shock arrest on charges he, his employer, and the White House reject as false.

The Wall Street Journal correspondent became the first Western journalist to be charged with spying in Russia since the Cold War when he was detained in March 2023 on a reporting trip to the Urals city of Yekaterinburg.

Gershkovich, who is Jewish, smiles and greets journalists in Yekaterinburg’s Sverdlovsk Regional Court with a barely audible “hi,” as he stands inside the glass defendants’ cage.

He wears a dark checked shirt and jeans, his head shaven, according to an AFP reporter in the courtroom.

Russian prosecutors accuse Gershkovich of working for the CIA and “collecting secret information” about the country’s main tank manufacturer in the Urals — claims Washington says are fabricated.

The Kremlin has provided no public evidence for the allegations, saying only that he was caught “red-handed.”

If convicted, Gershkovich could face up to 20 years in a penal colony.

The 32-year-old spent almost 15 months in Moscow’s notorious Lefortovo prison following his arrest.

The US State Department says the accusations against him have “zero credibility,” while The Wall Street Journal says he was arrested for “simply doing his job.”

Washington has accused Moscow of arresting its citizens on baseless charges to use them as bargaining chips to secure the release of Russians convicted abroad.

Moscow said last week, days after the trial date was announced, that it was waiting for a response from Washington on ideas Russia had presented for a possible prisoner swap.

Times of Israel staff contributed to this report.