Current:Home > FinanceWSJ reporter Evan Gershkovich loses appeal, will remain in Russian detention-DB Wealth Institute B2 Expert Reviews
WSJ reporter Evan Gershkovich loses appeal, will remain in Russian detention
View Date:2024-12-23 16:38:20
Russia's Moscow City Court refused to release Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich from pretrial detention Thursday, rejecting an appeal from the American journalist who is being held on espionage charges. Gershkovich's parents attended the hearing.
Authorities have not offered any evidence to support their allegations against Gershkovich; the U.S. says he is being "wrongfully detained" and must be released immediately.
Gershkovich's parents traveled to Russia to hear the decision, and they were able to briefly see their son and talk with him through an opening in the glass and metal cage from which he viewed Thursday's proceeding. Gershkovich, wearing a dark T-shirt and jeans, was seen smiling as he stood talking with his mother.
Gershkovich has been detained since late March, when he was taken into custody by Russian security agents during a reporting trip near the Ural Mountains in western Russia. His appeal sought to overturn a court ruling in May that extended his pretrial detention for three months, through at least August 30.
The court noted that the charges accuse Gershkovich of collecting information about Russia's military-industrial complex. Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said in April that Gershkovich "was caught red-handed and his journalistic status ... was merely a cover for spying."
Despite that claim, Russia's move to detain a U.S. journalist for the first time in decades is widely seen as an escalation of two items on the Kremlin's agenda: seizing leverage in negotiations over disputes with the U.S., and suppressing journalism operations inside Russia as it wages war on neighboring Ukraine.
"This whole legal process as it relates to Evan is a sham," U.S. State Department Principal Deputy Spokesman Vedant Patel said on Wednesday. "We've been very clear that Evan is wrongfully detained, being wrongfully detained and targeted for simply doing his job" as a journalist.
Gershkovich was detained months after Moscow freed WNBA star Brittney Griner in a prisoner swap in exchange for the U.S. releasing convicted Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout.
Former U.S. Marine Paul Whelan has been in Russian custody for more than four years after being arrested in late 2018. He was later sentenced to serve 16 years in a Russian penal colony on what the U.S. says are bogus espionage charges. The Biden administration has promised to keep working toward his release.
veryGood! (28)
Related
- Louisiana mom arrested for making false kidnapping report after 'disagreement' with son
- Remote volcano in Alaska spews new ash cloud, prompting aviation warnings
- 187,000 jobs added in July as unemployment falls to 3.5%
- California Joshua trees severely burned in massive wildfire
- 'Joker 2' actor pans DC sequel as the 'worst film' ever: 'It has no plot'
- Fargo challenges new North Dakota law, seeking to keep local ban on home gun sales
- 'A horrible person': Suspect accused of locking woman in cage had aliases, prior complaints
- School bus crash on Idaho highway under investigation
- Inspector general finds no fault in Park Police shooting of Virginia man in 2017
- Musk says his cage fight with Zuckerberg will be streamed on X
Ranking
- Mississippi Valley State football player Ryan Quinney dies in car accident
- Chicago police shoot, critically wound man who opened fire on officers during foot chase
- Wells Fargo customers report missing deposits from their bank accounts
- The buzz around Simone Biles’ return is papable. The gymnastics star seems intent on tuning it out
- Reds honor Pete Rose with a 14-hour visitation at Great American Ball Park
- Rita Ora and Taika Waititi Share Glimpse Inside Their Wedding on First Anniversary
- Mega Millions jackpot hits second-largest amount in lottery's history ahead of Friday drawing
- How long does it take for antibiotics to work? It depends, but a full course is required.
Recommendation
-
Video ‘bares’ all: Insurers say bear that damaged luxury cars was actually a person in a costume
-
US and Sweden meet again in a Women’s World Cup match that will eliminate either Rapinoe or Seger
-
Social media influencer Kai Cenat faces charges of inciting riot after thousands cause mayhem in NYC
-
Eagles reserve lineman Sills acquitted of rape, kidnapping charges
-
Pitchfork Music Festival to find new home after ending 19-year run in Chicago
-
Influencer to be charged after chaos erupts in New York City's Union Square
-
Gas prices rising again: See the top 10 states where gas is cheapest and most expensive
-
Chaos erupts in New York City after promise of free PlayStations