American journalist Evan Gershkovich, who works for The Wall Street Journal, has appealed against a Moscow court’s decision to extend his pretrial detention until December. Gershkovich is facing accusations of stealing state secrets from a military production facility in Russia. The Lefortovo court in Moscow ruled on Thursday that Gershkovich would remain in custody until November 30, adding three more months to his original release date of August 30. The hearing was held behind closed doors due to the classified nature of the materials involved in the case.
According to the court’s website, Gershkovich’s legal team filed an appeal against the ruling on Saturday. This is not the first time his lawyers have appealed a decision regarding his detention. Back in April, they appealed a ruling that extended his detention until August, but were unsuccessful in their efforts.
Gershkovich was detained in late March near a military production site in the city of Ekaterinburg in Russia. The Federal Security Service (FSB) of Russia stated that the 31-year-old journalist was seeking “information amounting to a state secret about the activities of one of the enterprises of the Russian military-industrial complex.” If convicted, Gershkovich could face a sentence of up to 20 years in prison.
In April, the court denied a request by Gershkovich’s attorney to release him on bail of 50 million rubles ($622,500), which his parent company, The Wall Street Journal, was willing to pay. Gershkovich maintains his innocence, and the US government insists that he has been wrongfully detained. The White House is reportedly exploring options to secure his release through a prisoner swap, but Russian authorities have made it clear that such a deal cannot be considered until after his trial concludes and a verdict is reached.
While Gershkovich’s case has yet to begin, recent reports indicate that another foreign citizen, identified as E. M. Spector, has been imprisoned on allegations of espionage. Russian media reports have suggested that the suspect is Eugene ‘Gene’ Spector, an American who was previously convicted of bribery charges in 2021.
The situation surrounding Gershkovich’s detention has garnered significant attention, with concerns raised about press freedom and the treatment of journalists in Russia. The appeal filed by his legal team will now be considered by the court, and a decision on whether to overturn or uphold the extension of his pretrial detention will be made in due course. The outcome of this case will undoubtedly have significant implications for both Gershkovich and the broader journalistic community.
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