Wall Street Journal Reporter Loses Appeal Against Pre-Trial Detention in Moscow
American journalist, Evan Gershkovich, who works for the Wall Street Journal, has lost his appeal against the extension of pre-trial detention in Moscow on spying charges. His detention was extended last month and he is being held at the notorious Lefortovo prison in Moscow until August 30th. If convicted, he faces up to twenty years in jail. Gershkovich denies the espionage charges, which he and his employer strongly contest.
Gershkovich’s arrest in March was the first detention of an American reporter in Russia on allegations of spying since the Cold War. This has caused alarm in the White House and tensions between Moscow and Washington have been further strained due to this incident.
The Wall Street Journal has released a statement calling for Gershkovich’s release and has expressed concern over the lack of transparency in the legal process. In addition, they have noted that the charges against him are without merit and have asked that the Russian authorities reconsider.
The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has also expressed concern over the detention of Gershkovich. They have stated that this is a clear violation of press freedom and have called for his immediate release. The CPJ has also noted that this is part of a wider pattern of harassment and detention of journalists in Russia, and they have called on the Russian authorities to end this practice.
This case has received widespread attention and has highlighted the challenges faced by journalists working in Russia. With increasing pressure on the media and the government’s crackdown on free speech, journalists are finding it increasingly difficult to report on events in the country. The international community has called for Gershkovich’s immediate release and for greater protection for journalists working in Russia.
This is a breaking news story and further details will be released as they become available.
Original Story at www.cnn.com – 2023-06-22 10:01:00