Russian Trial Seeks 18-Year Sentence for U.S. Journalist Evan Gershkovich

Russian prosecutors have requested an 18-year prison sentence for U.S. journalist Evan Gershkovich on espionage charges. The Wall Street Journal reporter, his newspaper, and the U.S. government deny the spying accusations. Gershkovich was arrested in March 2023, and the verdict will be announced today.

Russian prosecutors at the trial of U.S. journalist Evan Gershkovich on Friday requested an 18-year jail term on charges of spying, Russian news agencies reported.

A verdict on the Wall Street Journal reporter will be passed within hours, the agencies said. Gershkovich, his newspaper, and the U.S. government all reject the accusation of spying. "The judge retired to the deliberation room to decide the verdict. The verdict will be announced today at 17:00 (1200 GMT)," stated news agency TASS, quoting the court press secretary.

The requested sentence was two years short of the maximum 20-year penalty under Russian espionage laws. Gershkovich is accused of gathering information on orders of the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency about a Russian company producing tanks for the war in Ukraine. His newspaper has called the trial a sham with a pre-determined outcome.

He was arrested on March 29, 2023, and has since been held mainly in Moscow's Lefortovo prison. The Kremlin claims he was caught "red-handed," but has not provided evidence. The court proceedings have been closed to the media, citing state secrets.