Trial of Wall Street Journal Reporter Evan Gershkovich in Russia

SOURCE www.nbcnews.com
Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich is on trial in Russia on espionage charges that are widely believed to be false. The trial is closed to the public, and Gershkovich faces up to 20 years in prison if found guilty.

Key Points

  • Evan Gershkovich is the first Western journalist arrested on espionage charges in post-Soviet Russia
  • Russian authorities have accused him of gathering secret information for the U.S., a claim vehemently denied by him, his employer, and the U.S. government
  • Gershkovich faces up to 20 years in prison if convicted, with Russian courts known for convicting the vast majority of defendants

Pros

  • Journalism is not a crime and Evan Gershkovich was doing his job as an accredited journalist
  • The U.S. government has declared Gershkovich as 'wrongfully detained' and is seeking his release

Cons

  • Russian courts have a high conviction rate, with more than 99% of defendants being found guilty
  • The trial is closed to the public, limiting transparency and public awareness of the case