On Tuesday, a Moscow court extended the detention of Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, who was arrested on March 29 on unsupported accusations of espionage. The court refused bail and extended Gershkovich’s detention until August 30. The United States government and The Wall Street Journal have vehemently rejected the charges, saying that “reporting is not a crime.”
Gershkovich’s parents, Ella Milman and Mikhail Gershkovich, were allowed into the hearing and saw their son for the first time since his arrest. Afterward, they were whisked away in the company of one of Gershkovich’s lawyers. Ms. Milman wore a “Free Evan” button.
The United States government, The Wall Street Journal, numerous colleagues, groups supporting press freedom and prominent international officials have all condemned Gershkovich’s detention and called the accusations made against him utterly baseless.
Gershkovich has been held at the notoriously harsh Lefortovo jail since his arrest. If convicted, Gershkovich would face up to 20 years in a Russian penal colony. The Biden administration is known to be working to secure an early release for Gershkovich.
The case has contributed to the sharp deterioration in relations between Russia and the United States. Russian-American relations are in a state of acute tension over the war in Ukraine, and President Vladimir V. Putin has embarked on a drive to suppress independent news outlets and free speech in general.
The United States government has asserted that Gershkovich is “wrongfully detained” and has called for him to be freed immediately. The White House has opened the way for a wide range of steps to secure his release.