American Reporter Evan Gershkovich Receives a 16-Year Prison Sentence in Russia

Russian courts are infamous for their exceptionally high conviction rates, with over 99 percent of defendants being found guilty.

U.S. journalist Evan Gershkovich from the Wall Street Journal has been convicted of espionage by a Russian court and given a 16-year prison sentence, as confirmed by the Russian Prosecutor General’s Office here on Telegram. Both his employer and the United States government have denounced the charges and trial as baseless and politically motivated.

According to a translated Telegram post from the prosecutor’s office, “The verdict has been issued. US citizen Evan Gershkovich has been convicted under Article 276 of the Russian Federation’s Criminal Code (espionage). The court, in agreement with the state prosecutor, has sentenced him to 16 years in a maximum security penal colony.”

The trial took place in the Sverdlovsk Regional Court, where Mr. Gershkovich affirmed his understanding of the verdict when asked by the judge, replying, “yes.”

Mr. Gershkovich, aged 32, was arrested in March 2023 during a reporting assignment in Yekaterinburg and accused of gathering classified information for the U.S., charges that he and his employer vehemently denied. He is the first American journalist detained on espionage charges in Russia since Nicholas Daniloff’s arrest in 1986.

The trial was shrouded in secrecy, with final arguments presented behind closed doors. Despite limited transparency and restricted media access throughout the proceedings, Mr. Gershkovich never admitted guilt, according to the court’s press service as reported by the AP.

The Wall Street Journal stated in a public release on July 18, “Evan’s arrest has been unjust since his wrongful detention 477 days ago, and it must end immediately. While Russia conducts this farcical trial, we persist in advocating for Evan’s prompt release, underscoring unequivocally that Evan was simply doing his journalistic duty, and journalism is not a crime. Bring him home now.”

Related Stories

The last consular visit to Mr. Gershkovich occurred on May 23 by Ambassador Lynee Tracy, as per the state department’s statement.

Mr. Patel reiterated, “Evan is innocent and should not be detained. Russia has failed to provide any evidence of wrongdoing or justify his continuous detention. Evan should be released, as well as Paul Whelan, immediately.”

Regarding a potential prisoner exchange, Mr. Patel refrained from public discussions, stating, “I won’t delve into negotiations publicly. Our aim is the release of Evan Gershkovich and Paul Whelan promptly. The trial’s timeline does not affect our urgency to bring them home. We are committed to their immediate release until they are reunited with their families.”

Prior to the sentencing, Russian prosecutors had sought an 18-year term for Mr. Gershkovich.

On the day of the verdict, media were granted courtroom access, a departure from earlier trial stages. Espionage and treason cases in Russia typically entail high secrecy, reflecting the country’s strict legal stance on such charges. Russian courts are notorious for their high conviction rates, with over 99 percent of defendants being found guilty.

The U.S. State Department has classified Mr. Gershkovich as “wrongfully detained.” Dmitry Peskov, a Kremlin spokesperson, declined to comment on the potential of a prisoner exchange involving Mr. Gershkovich, as reported by the AP.

Recently, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov hinted at ongoing discussions between Russian and American special services for a prospective swap, emphasizing that such an exchange would only follow a formal verdict.

Last month, the Russian Prosecutor General’s office alleged that Mr. Gershkovich had been gathering classified information about Uralvagonzavod, a tank manufacturing and repair facility, on behalf of the CIA.

Mr. Gershkovich’s arrest and conviction have raised concerns among foreign journalists in Russia, particularly considering the nation’s heightened suppression of freedom of speech post its military actions in Ukraine.

Linda Thomas-Greenfield, U.S. Ambassador to the U.N., condemned Russia for treating “human beings as bargaining tools,” referencing Mr. Gershkovich’s case alongside that of Paul Whelan, a former Marine serving a 16-year sentence in Russia for espionage.

This report includes contributions from The Associated Press.