LONDON — The trial of Evan Gershkovich, an American journalist charged with espionage in Russia, was set to convene on Wednesday behind closed doors.
The proceedings in Sverdlovsk Regional Court in Yekaterinburg, a city hundreds of miles from Moscow, will mark the first time prosecutors have laid out their evidence against the Wall Street Journal reporter, who they’ve accused of working for the CIA.
The case against the journalist has been widely denounced by U.S. officials and press-freedom advocates, along with Gershkovich’s editor and publisher.
“When his case comes before a judge this week, it will not be a trial as we understand it, with a presumption of innocence and a search for the truth,” Emma Tucker, the Journal’s editor-in-chief, wrote in an open letter published Tuesday.
Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, who stands trial on spying charges, is seen inside an enclosure for defendants before a court hearing in Yekaterinburg, Russia June 26, 2024.
Evgenia Novozhenina/Reuters
Gershkovich was arrested in March 2023 while reporting in the Sverdlovsk region, where Russian officials claimed he was collecting secrets on the “production and repair of military equipment” for the CIA. The indictment against Gershkovich was approved by prosecutors earlier this month, sending the case to the regional court for trial.
The reporter appeared in court on Wednesday with a shaved head, briefly smiling at the gathered photographers from inside the glass cage common for defendants in Russian courtrooms. The press were expected to be asked to leave the courtroom prior to the start of the secret trial.
U.S. officials declared In April 2023 that Gershkovich’s detention was wrongful, accusing Russia at the time of oppressing opposition voices and conducting an “ongoing war against the truth.”
Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, who stands trial on spying charges, is seen inside an enclosure for defendants before a court hearing in Yekaterinburg, Russia June 26, 2024.
Evgenia Novozhenina/Reuters
The Kremlin’s efforts to suppress dissent have in the last year become “even more oppressive,” U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in March, as he marked a year since the journalist’s arrest.
“To date, Russia has provided no evidence of wrongdoing for a simple reason: Evan did nothing wrong,” Blinken said. “Journalism is not a crime.”
Officials from the U.S. Embassy were expected to travel on Wednesday to the court in Yekaterinburg, although it was unclear whether they would be allowed to sit in the room during the trial, State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller told reporters during a briefing on Tuesday in Washington.
“I’m not going to speak to their motivations in apprehending him in the first place, but it’s clear that it’s an attack on journalism,” Miller said. “They have made false claims about his behavior, about his actions, about associations with the United States government that simply aren’t true.”
American reporter Evan Gershkovich made headlines recently when he attended a Russian court for an undisclosed espionage trial. Gershkovich, who works for a prominent news outlet, was one of the few foreign journalists granted access to the highly secretive proceedings.
The trial, which has been shrouded in secrecy, has raised concerns about the state of press freedom in Russia. Gershkovich’s presence in the courtroom highlights the challenges faced by journalists reporting on sensitive issues in the country.
The Russian government has been accused of cracking down on independent media outlets and stifling dissenting voices. The case of the undisclosed espionage trial is just one example of the lengths to which the authorities will go to control the narrative and suppress information that they deem to be damaging to their interests.
Gershkovich’s reporting on the trial has provided valuable insights into the workings of the Russian justice system and the challenges faced by journalists working in the country. His presence in the courtroom has also drawn attention to the importance of press freedom and the need for journalists to be able to report on sensitive issues without fear of reprisal.
As the trial continues to unfold, Gershkovich’s reporting will be closely watched by media outlets and human rights organizations around the world. His coverage of the proceedings will provide a valuable window into the state of press freedom in Russia and the challenges faced by journalists working in a climate of increasing censorship and repression.
In attending the Russian court for the undisclosed espionage trial, Evan Gershkovich has demonstrated his commitment to uncovering the truth and shining a light on issues that are often hidden from public view. His reporting serves as a reminder of the vital role that journalists play in holding those in power accountable and ensuring that information is freely available to all.
