US journalist on trial in Russia on espionage charges that he and his employer deny - AP explains

(26 Jun 2024)
FOR CLEAN VERSION SEE STORY NUMBER: 4502665

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Tallinn, Estonia - 26 June 2024
1. SOUNDBITE (English) Emma Burrows, Associated Press: +PARTIALLY OVERLAID BY SHOTS 2 AND 3++
"Evan Gershkovich, an American journalist, has gone on trial for espionage in the Russian city of Yekaterinburg, around 1,000 miles from Moscow. He was arrested there while on a reporting trip in March 2023, a year after (Russian) President Vladimir Putin sent his troops into Ukraine. Gershkovich, his employer, the Wall Street Journal and the US government deny all the charges against him. The trial is being held behind closed doors and the Journal said it's a sham. Gershkovich appeared at the start of his trial for the first time with a shaved head - he's facing up to 20 years in prison. Russian authorities claim he was gathering secret information for American intelligence but the Kremlin has been accused of detaining several US citizens to use as bargaining chips in prisoner swaps. Gershkovich has already spent more than a year in Moscow's notorious Lefortovo jail. Putin has hinted he could be swapped for a Russian assassin being held in Germany. But officials have said that can only take place once he has been convicted -- which is almost certain -- as only 1% of defendants in Russia walk free."

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Yekaterinburg, Russia - 26 June 2024
++PLEASE NOTE: AP IS OPERATING IN RUSSIA ACCORDING TO RUSSIAN RESTRICTIONS ON ALL REPORTING RELATED TO THE ONGOING MILITARY OPERATION IN UKRAINE++
2. Various of US journalist Evan Gershkovich in glass cage in court room
3. Various of court exteriors
STORYLINE:
Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich went on trial behind closed doors in Yekaterinburg on Wednesday, 15 months after his arrest in the Russian city on espionage charges that he, his employer and the US government vehemently deny.

The 32-year-old journalist appeared in the court in a glass defendants' cage, his head shaved and wearing a black-and-blue plaid shirt. A yellow padlock was attached to the cage.

Journalists were allowed into the courtroom for a few minutes before the proceedings were closed.

Also briefly permitted in court were two consular officers from the US Embassy in Moscow, according to the embassy.

The hearing ended after about two hours, and the next one was scheduled for August 13, court officials said.

The American-born son of immigrants from the USSR, Gershkovich is the first Western journalist arrested on espionage charges in post-Soviet Russia.

Authorities arrested Gershkovich when he was on a reporting trip to Yekaterinburg, in the Ural Mountains, and claimed he was gathering secret information for the US.

The State Department has declared him “wrongfully detained,” thereby committing the government to assertively seek his release.

Gershkovich faces up to 20 years in prison if the court finds him guilty, which is almost certain.

Russian courts convict more than 99% of the defendants who come before them, and prosecutors can appeal sentences that they regard as too lenient, and they even can appeal acquittals

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