Wall Street Journal Reporter Evan Gershkovich Found Guilty of Espionage in Russia
First American Journalist Arrested on Such Charges Since the Cold War
Sentenced to 16 Years in High-Security Prison
Evan Gershkovich, a Wall Street Journal reporter, has been found guilty of espionage by a Russian court and sentenced to 16 years in a high-security prison. Gershkovich is the first American journalist to be arrested on espionage charges in Russia since the Cold War.
Gershkovich was detained by Russian authorities in December 2022 while on a reporting trip to Moscow. He was accused of gathering classified information about the Russian military. Gershkovich has denied the charges, saying he was simply doing his job as a journalist.
The United States government has condemned Gershkovich's arrest and conviction, calling it a "clear violation of international law." The U.S. government has also called for Gershkovich's immediate release.
Gershkovich's case has raised concerns about the safety of journalists in Russia. In recent years, several journalists have been attacked, threatened, or detained in Russia.
The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has called on the Russian government to respect the rights of journalists and to allow them to work freely without fear of reprisal.
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