Russia: journalist US Gershkovich will be tried on June 26

The trial of American journalist Evan Gershkovich, accused of having collected information on a Russian tank factory on behalf of the CIA and incarcerated for more than a year, will begin on June 26 in Yekaterinburg, in the Urals.

The Wall Street Journal journalist, aged 32, was arrested in March 2023 by the Russian security services (FSB) during a report in Yekaterinburg, and accused of “espionage”, a crime punishable by 20 years in prison. prison.

He, his relatives, his employer and his country firmly reject these accusations, which Russia has never substantiated, and denounce a fabricated affair.

“The first audience”

His trial “will take place behind closed doors” in Yekaterinburg, the Sverdlovsk Regional Court said in a statement on Monday, specifying that “the first hearing has been set for June 26, 2024”.

Washington and Moscow have indicated that they are in contact to reach an exchange of prisoners which would allow his release, but so far no agreement seems in sight.

The prosecution accuses Evan Gershkovich, who worked for the AFP in Moscow between 2020 and 2021, of having “collected secret information” on the Uralvagonzavod company on behalf of the CIA.

Uralvagonzavod is one of Russia’s largest arms manufacturers, producing T-90 battle tanks used in Ukraine and the new generation Armata tank, as well as freight wagons.

“Zero credibility”

Russia never publicly presented evidence against Evan Gershkovich and the entire proceedings were classified.

“These accusations have zero credibility,” State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller told reporters last week, again calling for the journalist’s “immediate” release.

The accusations against Evan Gershkovich are of a seriousness not seen since the end of the USSR for a foreign journalist.

Washington accuses Moscow of having taken it hostage to obtain an exchange, as has already been the case in the past.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said he was willing to exchange the journalist for Vadim Krassikov, imprisoned for life in Germany for the assassination of a former Chechen war commander in Berlin in 2019.

At the beginning of June, Mr. Putin further indicated that contacts were “constant” between Russia and the United States to reach an agreement.

“High treason”

Since Evan Gershkovich’s arrest, Russian justice has systematically extended his pre-trial detention in Lefortovo prison, held by the FSB in Moscow, every two to three months.

Like him, former American marine Paul Whelan, imprisoned in Russia since 2018, is also awaiting an exchange and rejects the espionage accusations which earned him a 16-year prison sentence.

Dual nationals have also recently been arrested. Russian-American Ksenia Karelina was arrested in February, accused of “high treason” for making a donation to the Ukrainian army.

Before her, a Russian-American journalist, Alsu Kurmasheva, working for the media RFE/RL financed by the American Congress, was arrested in October 2023. She is accused of disseminating “false information” about the Russian army.

Russia also detained at the beginning of June a French national, Laurent Vinatier, collaborator of a Swiss conflict resolution NGO and accused of not having registered as a “foreign agent” collecting information on the Russian army.

AFP

Did you find an error? Please report it to us.

0 comments