US journalist Evan Gershkovich goes on trial for espionage charges in Russia

US journalist Evan Gershkovich attended Wednesday a closed-door trial on espionage charges in Russia, over a year after he became the first Western journalist since the Soviet era to be detained on such accusations. Gershkovich, whose next hearing is set for August 13, faces up to 20 years in prison if found guilty.

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 U.S. 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 U.S. Embassy in Moscow, according to the embassy.

The next hearing for Gershkovich was set for Aug. 13, court officials said.

Jay Conti, executive vice president and general counsel for Dow Jones, publisher of the Journal, described the trial as a sham in an interview with The Associated Press.

“He was an accredited journalist doing journalism, and this is a sham trial, bogus charges that are completely trumped up,” Conti said.

Paul Whelan, an American corporate security executive, was arrested in Moscow for espionage in 2018 and is serving a 16-year sentence.

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