Two journalists, Evan Gershkovich and Alsu Kurmasheva, have been convicted in Russian courts of espionage and spreading false information about the Russian army. The U.S. is working to secure their release.
Key Points
Evan Gershkovich and Alsu Kurmasheva were found guilty of espionage and spreading false information
The U.S. government and journalists are calling for their release
The trials have raised hopes for a possible prisoner swap between the U.S. and Russia
Pros
U.S. government and journalists worldwide are outraged by the convictions
Efforts are being made to secure the release of the journalists
Cons
The convictions are seen as politically motivated by the U.S.