Russia Blames U.S. Journalists for Delayed Prisoner Talks

Russia's foreign minister attributed the delay in prisoner exchange talks with the U.S. to American journalists on Wednesday, specifically focusing on imprisoned Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich.

One day before Gershkovich's court appearance on espionage charges, Sergey Lavrov mentioned at a UN news conference that the negotiations are ongoing but confidential. Gershkovich, along with the Journal and U.S. officials, vehemently deny the allegations and label the trial as illegitimate.

Gershkovich was arrested on March 29, 2023, during a reporting trip in Yekaterinburg, charged with espionage without substantial evidence presented by Russian authorities. If convicted, he faces up to 20 years in prison. Russia hinted at a prisoner swap if a verdict is reached, amidst a legal system where over 99% of defendants are convicted, and even lenient sentences or acquittals can be appealed by prosecutors.

(With inputs from agencies.)